IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Coiporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquas 


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Couverture  de  couleur 


I — I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


r~n    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gtegraphiques  en  couleur 


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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


0 


D 


Planchea  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  ro  liure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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maia,  iorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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modification  dans  la  mithode  normaie  de  fil;nag4 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~~]   Coloured  pages/ 


Pagea  da  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Page*  endom  magmas 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauriles  et/ou  pellicuiies 

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r~~|  Pages  damaged/ 

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I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~^  Showthrough/ 

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r~|  Includes  supplementary  matersal/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


Pages  65  to  96  are  misting. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dsssous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 

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12X 


16X 


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24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hae  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Seminary  of  Qutbtc 
Litwary 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  *  la 
g4n4rosit*  df : 

S4minaira  da  Qu4bac 
Bibliothkiua 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres* 
sion.  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, end  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  At*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  rexemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformit*  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film*s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derni*re  pace  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iiiustrstion,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film*s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derni*re  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "."^IN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method; 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  *tre 
filmte  A  dee  taux  de  reduction  diff*rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  *tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich*.  11  est  film*  *  partir 
de  Tangle  sup*rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  *  droite. 
et  do  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  ie  nombre 
d'images  n*cessaire.  lies  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m*thode. 


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Entered  tccordlng  to  Act  of  Congreis,  in  the  yew  WS3, 

By  D.  k  t.  BiDUEB  add  Coxpaht, 

lu  tb«  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Uie  United  SUtes  for  the  Soutbem  District  ol  New  Tort. 


APPROEATIOlSrS 


The  volume  which  we  now  offer  to  the  public,  under  the  title  of 
''The  Admirable  Life  of  the  Olorioua  Patriarch  St.  Joseph,"  is  a  faithful 
extract,  without  change,  modification,  or  alteration,  taken  verbatim  et 
literatim  from  the  celebrated  production,  ''The  Cite  Mystique;'*  of  Mary 
of  Jesus  of  Agreda.  Hence,  all  the  approbations  conferred  on  the  latter 
work  are  applicable  to  this.  We  subjoin  a  sketch  of  these  various  appro- 
bations, of  which  we  guarantee  the  authenticity,  having  copied  them  from 
I  he  acts  of  tl  e  process  for  the  beatification  and  canonization  of  the  servant 
of  God,  Maria  d'Agreda. 

1.  Approbation  of  the  bishop  of  the  place  where  this  servant  of  God 
died  in  the  odor  of  sanctity,  and  also  of  that  where  the  work  was  pub- 
lished. Bishops  (as  every  one  knows)  are  the  judges,  in  the  first  instance, 
of  the  doctrine  of  the  books  wliich  are  published  m  places  under  their 
jurisdiction. 

2.  Approbation  of  the  inquisition  of  Spain,  who  <:!xamined  it,  word  for 
word,  and  authorized  its  publication  and  diffusion. 

3.  Approbation  of  all  the  religious  bodies  appointed  to  examine  this 
work.  They  have  bestowed  unbounded  praises  upon  it,  and  recommend 
it  as  a  fruit  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God. 

4.  Approbation  of  the  most  celebrated  universities,  who,  after  a  minute 
examination,  have  declared  that  this  book  contains  nothing  contrary  to 
faith  or  morals,  and  who  have  exalted  it  beyond  measure,  as  the  Sover- 
«ign  Pontiff,  Benedict  XIV.,  attests  in  his  decree  of  1748.  The  Univer- 
sity of  Paris  alone  offers  an  exception,  because,  at  that  epoch,  it  was  con- 
trolled by  the  influences  of  Jansenism. 

5.  Finally,  the  Roman  Church,  after  having  placed  this  work  on  the 
Index,  August  4th,  1681,  on  account  of  the  controversy  which  it  excited, 

•  The  Mystical  City  of  God. 


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4  APPROBATIONS. 

tfithdrew  it  on  the  9th  of  November  of  the  same  year.  This  last  decree 
is  of  Buch  force,  that  in  1713,  a  bishop  having  prohibited  the  reading  of 
it,  the  Holy  Office  declared  this  prohibition  to  be  of  no  effect,  and  obliged 
the  bishop  to  retract  it,  as  being  contrary  to  the  decree  of  the  0th  of 
November,  1681,  of  Innocent  XI.,  which  decree,  said  the  Holy  Congre- 
gation, has  the  force  of  an  obligatory  law  tliroughout  the  Universal 
Church.     Qui  halit  aure8,  audiendi^  audiat. 

Alexander  VIII.  authorized  the  reading  of  it  oraculo  viva  vocis. 
Clement  IX.,  in  1704,  prohibited  its  being  placed  on  the  Index.  And 
last  of  all,  in  1729,  under  Pope  Benedict  XHI.,  of  holy  memory,  the 
Sacred  Congregation  of  Rites  promulgated  an  ample  and  unanimous 
decree,  which  allows  this  hook  to  he  read  and  retained  without  any  further 
examination.  Hence,  he  who,  by  whatever  rank,  dignity,  or  honor  ho 
may  be  invested,  presumes  to  forbid  the  reading  of  this  work,  which  has 
been  approved  by  the  Holy  See,  will  be  obliged,  if  required,  to  make  » 
public  retractation. 

Thus,  pious  reader,  the  cause  is  ended.     Read  the  book,  and  study  it 
*''    without  hesitation ;  for  Rome,  who  cannot  err,  has  spoken. 


Mm 


Thb  ABBfe  J.  A.  BOULLAN. 


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15 


TO  TnE  DlVn^  HEART  OF  JESUS,  AND  TO 
MARY  IMMACULATE. 

O  Jesus  I  Son  of  the  Eternal  Father  I  Divine  Redeemer  of  our 
souls,  whom  TIiou  hast  redeemed  by  the  effusion  of  Tliy  precious  blood ! 
Tliou  hast  deigned,  during  Tliy  mortal  life,  to  call  by  the  sweet  name 
of  father,  the  glorious  St.  Joseph,  and  Tliou  hast  chosen  to  be  named  by 
men  the  son  of  Joseph.  Word  of  God !  Master  of  eternal  wisdom  I  to 
wliom,  unless  it  be  to  Thy  Sacred  Heart,  can  I  more  worthily  make  tlie 
offering  of  this  little  book,  ir»  honor  of  the  incomparable  Patriarch? 
Deign,  I  implore  Thee,  to  bless  it,  and  its  author.  All  unworthy  and 
miserable  as  I  am,  I  beseech  Thee  tliat  this  life  of  Thine  adopted  father 
may  bear  fruits  of  grace  to  many  souls— that  it  may  become  a  blessing 
to  the  dwellings  which  receive  it—that  the  sinner  may  be  converted,  and 
the  just  encouraged  to  become  holy,  by  meditating  upon  it.  O  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus  I  vouchsafe  to  grant  that  grace,  and  these  favors,  in  mem- 
v,ry  of  Tliy  complaisance  in  the  fidelity  and  love  of  Thy  glorious  servant. 
Saint  Joseph  1 

Mother  of  Jesus  I  Immaculate  Virgin !  Spouse  of  St.  Joseph,  thou 
who  hast  deigned  to  communicate  to  us  by  means  of  thy  beloved  daugh 
ter,  Mary  of  Agreda,  all  that  forms  the  subject  of  this  volume,  disdain 
not.  Queen  of  Mercy,  to  bless  it.  I  place  it  in  thy  hands.  Thou  knowest, 
that,  overwhelmed  by  the  weight  of  my  miseries,  I  have  had  recourse  to 
thy  glorious  spouse,  whom  thou  hast  permitted  me  to  call  my  father ; 
and  that  in  acknowledgment  of  his  miraculous  benefits,  I  have  applied 
myself,  by  thy  consent,  to  this  work.  May  this  Life  serve  as  an  instru- 
ment to  augment  the  devotion  to  St.  Joseph  among  the  children  of  the 


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6  A  PBAYKIl   TO  JESUS   AND   MAKT. 

Church.  Thou  hast  warned  us,  O  Mother  of  Pity,  that  the  damned  will 
weep  bitterly  for  not  having  kiwwn  this  means,  so  powerful  and  to  effi- 
cacUniSy  for  their  salvation,  and  for  not  having  availed  themselves  of  it. 
{Book  v.,  ch.  XVI.)  May  those  who  yet  live  on  earth,  know  and  profit 
by  it,  to  forsake  the  ways  of  sin,  and  to  recover  the  grace  of  the  just. 

Worthy  father  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven,  St.  Joachim,  you  whom  the 
bloBscd  Mother,  and  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  given  me  for  my 
patron  in  the  new  vocation  to  which  I  have  been  so  freely  predestined 
ind  called,  deign  to  present  the  humble  offering  of  my  book  to  the  great 
I'tvtriarch  St.  Joseph,  and  obtain  for  me,  by  your  eflScacious  intercession, 
thai  I  may  be  worthy  to  persevere  to  the  end  in  the  way  which  his  medi- 
ation with  Jesus  and  Mary  has  opened  for  me. 

Jesus!  Marv!  Joseph  I  all  hail  I 

T<ai  Abb£  J.  A.  BOULLAN. 


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TIIE  ADMIRABLE  LIFE 


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GLORIOUS  PATRIARCH,  ST.  JOSEPH. 


CHAPTER  L 

KBPOrSAM    OF    THE    CIIA8TB    §T.    JOSEPH    WITH    THE    BLESSED    VIEOm.— VARIOUS 
CIRCUMSTANCES  WHICH    ACCOMPANIED  THIS   MTSTERIOUS   MARRIAQB, 

The  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  after  her  entrance  into  the  Temple, 
had  made,  in  the  presence  of  all  the  angelic  hosts,  a  vow  of  chasti- 
ty. This  most  chaste  dove  had  renounced  earthly  attachments,  and 
the  love  of  all  creatures,  that  she  might  have  no  other  spouse  than 
God  himself;  but  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  and  a  half,  it  was 
manifested  to  our  sweet  Lady  in  a  vision,  that  she  should  enter 
into  the  marriage  state.  "The  Lord  tempted  Abraham,"  said 
Moses, — and  the  Lord  also  tempted  our  august  Mistress ;  in  which 
we  discover  the  truth  of  these  words:  "The  judgments  of  the 
Lord  are  incomprehensible,  and  His  ways  are  above  our  ways." 
The  thoughts  of  the  pure  Mary  were  far  removed  from  those  of 
the  Most  High,  for  she  had  desired  and  resolved  to  have  no  hus" 
band,  so  far  as  it  depended  upon  her  own  will. 

The  Lord  spoke  in  a  dream  to  the  high-priest,  who  was  St. 
Simeon,  and  commanded  him  to  make  preparations  for  the  mar- 
riage of  Mary,  daughter  of  Joachim  and  Anne  of  Nazareth,  and  to 
convoke  an  assemblage  of  the  other  priests  to  deliberate  upon  the 
subject.  St.  Simeon  obeyed  the  divine  behest,  and  the  assembled 
doctors,  inspired  by  a  celestial  impulse,  resolved,  that  in  an  affaii 


iK.fE»-a 


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LIFE   OF   RT  JOrtKPir. 


[CIIAP.  1. 


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upon  wliich  the  Lord  Imd  (Ifcliinjd  His  good  plensure,  they  onght 
to  consult  Ilia  holy  will  l>y  praying,  thut  Ho  would  nmnifest,  by  n 
sign,  liini  who  should  bo  the  huslmnd  of  Mary,  and  that  he  should 
be  of  the  house  and  lineage  of  David,  that  the  law  might  be  ful- 
lilh'd.  Tliey  therefore  resolved  to  appoint  n  day  when  all  the 
young  men  of  that  family,  present  in  Jerusalem,  should  be  invited 
to  nasemble  in  the  T.-mple.  It  was  precisely  the  day  on  which  our 
blessed  Lady  had  attained  her  fourteenth  year. 

The  Priest  Simeon  summoned  the  chaste  Mary,  in  order  to 
make  known  to  her  this  resolution.  It  wj\s  nine  days  before  that 
on  which  their  designs  were  to  be  i)ut  into  execution.  During 
this  time  the  most  blessed  Vi-^in  redoubled  her  prayers,  her  teai-s, 
ond  sighs,  tbr  the  accomplishment  of  the  will  of  God  in  nn  event 
which  caused  her  the  greatest  pain.  The  Lord  consoled  her,  say- 
ing: "I  will  give  you  a  spouse  who  will  not  oppose  your  holy 
desires,  but  who  will  rather,  by  the  help  of  my  grace,  confii  a 
them  I  will  choose  him  for  you  peifect,  and  according  to  my 
own  heart,  and  I  will  elect  him  for  you  from  among  my  servants." 
The  holy  angels  also  consoled  her,  saying :  "  The  Most  High  will 
guide  you  in  the  way  which  is  the  best,  the  most  perfect,  the  most 

holy." 

Joseph  was  born  at  Nazareth ;  nevertheless,  by  the  disposition 
of  the  Most  High,  he  had  come  to  dwell  in  Jerusalem,  because  of 
certain  reverses  of  fortune,  which  resulted  bo  favorably  for  hira 
that  he  had  the  happiness  to  become  the  spouse  of  her  whom  God 
had  chosen  to  be  His  own  Mother,  under  the  circumstances  that 
we  are  about  to  relate. 

The  day  appointed  by  the  priests  arrived.  Our  blessed  Lady 
had  completed  the  fourteenth  year  of  her  age.  The  young  men  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  of  the  family  of  David,  from  whom  the 
august  Mary  was  descended,  who  were  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem, 
were  assembled.  Joseph,  originally  of  Nazareth,  but  now  an 
inhabitant  of  the  holy  city,  was  invited  to  be  with  them,  because 
he,  too,  was  of  that  royal  race.  He  was  then  thirty-three  years  of 
age,  well-made,  and  possessed  of  an  agreeable  physiognomy,  which 
expressed  an  incomparable  modesty.  He  was  indeed  as  chaste  in 
his  thoughts  and  deeds,  as  in  his  inclinations ;  and  having  made  a 


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CHAP.  I.] 


LIKE   OF  ST.  JOSKVII. 


VOW  of  hostity  when  but  twelve  yeni-H  old,  his  lif,,  wiw  pure  niwl 
inep..  chahle  hefore  Oocl  and  luun.  IIo  wiw  related  to  th«  Virgin 
Mary  in  the  third  degree. 

Inspired  by  the  Most  High,  the  chief-priest  pkeed  in  the  hands 
of  each  of  thene  young  ukmi  a  dry  rod,  in  order  that  by  tliis  rneiuiM 
flic  Lord  should  inaiiifest  him  whom  He  had  choHen  to  be  the  hu* 
l)iind  of  Mary  All  united  their  prayero  to  those  of  the  priests, 
for  none  were  ignorant  of  the  virtues  and  modesty  of  this  holy 
maiden,  nor  of  the  reputation  of  her  beauty,  and  her  possessions, 
ns  an  only  child ;  and  each  desired  to  make  her  his  wife.  Joseph 
alone,  the  most  humble,  the  most  pious  among  them,  deemed  him- 
self unworthy  of  so  great  a  boon ;  and,  calling  to  mind  his  vow  of 
chastity,  he  lesolved  anew  to  observe  it,  resigning  himself  to  the 
divine  will  even  to  the  end  of  his  life.  But  this  did  not  i)revent 
him  from  entertaining  for  the  virtuous  maiden  veneration  and 
esteem  beyond  any  of  his  compeeiu 

All  were  engaged  in  prayer,  when  they  saw  blossoms  buret  forth 
from  the  rod  borne  by  Joseph,  and  at  the  same  instant  a  beautiful 
dove  was  seen  to  descend,  which  alighted  on  the  head  of  the  saint. 
The  Lord,  at  the  same  moment,  spoke  to  him  interiorly,  and  said  : ! 
"  Joseph,  my  servant,  Mary  shall  become  your  spouse,  receive  her 
with  assiduity  and  respect,  for  she  is  very  agreeable  in  my  eyes; 
she  is  good  and  most  pure  in  body  and  mind,  and  you  will  d6  all 
that  she  will  tell  you."     The  priests,  upon  this  sign  from  heaven, 
determined  to  give  St.  Joseph  to  Mary  for  her  husband.     They 
then  called  for  her,  who  was  more  excellent  than  the  sun,  more 
beautiful  than  the  moon,  and  she  appeared  with  a  majesty  more 
than  angelic;  with  a  loveliness,  modesty,  and  grace  incomparable; 
and  the  priests  espoused  her  to  Joseph,  the  most  chaste  and  the^^ 
most  holy  of  men.    The  august  Mary,  with  mingled  modesty  and 
tenderness,  took  leave  of  the  priests  and  of  her  mistress,— asking 
pardon  of  her  companions,  and  expressing  her  grateful  sense  of  all 
the  kindness  she  had  received  from  them;  then,  accompanied  by 
many  of  the  most  distinguished  ministei-s  of  the  Temple,  she  depart-  \ 
ed  with  her  saintly  spouse  for  Nazai-eth,  the  country  of  the  newly  I 
mai-ried  pair,  where  lay  the  possessions  of  the  blessed  parents  ot  i 
our  sweet  Lady. 


M 


:L'< 


VJ     'ii 


:l    i. 


yW   mm    i-f;|frm»-- 


tVX^i 


T&' 


10 


LIFE   OK   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[chap.  I. 


M 


r^:^ 


M 


m. 


M 


On  tlieir  an-ival  they  were  received  and  visited  by  all  their 
relatives  and  friends,  with  the  usual  rejoicings  on  similar  occasions ; 
and  having  i-eligiousiy  acquitted  tliemselves  of  all  those  duties 
which  custom  commanded  in  their  intercoui'se  with  the  world,  our 
holy  spouses  at  length  found  tliemselves  alone  in  their  house.  It 
was  a  custom  among  the  Jews,  that  the  newly  espoused,  during 
the  first  days  of  their  union,  should  study  together  their  natui'al 
inclinations,  in  order  to  promote  their  future  peace. 

On  one  of  these  days,  St.  Joseph  said  to  his  spouse  Mary :  "  1 
give  thanks  to  the  Most  High  God  for  having  granted  me  the 
favor  to  choose  me  for  your  husband,  when  I  did  not  in  the  least 
merit  this  honor,  and  when  I  believed  myself  unwoi-thy  to  bear 
you  company.  But  His  Divine  Majesty,  who  can,  when  He  will, 
uplift  the  poor,  has  shown  His  mercy  towards  me.  I  desire  that 
you  will  aid  me  with  your  goodness  and  your  virtues  in  offering  (Jj^ 
Him  my  thanksgivings.  In  all  that  regards  His  service,  I  will  be 
your  servant.  I  pray  you  to  supply  my  deficiencies  in  those  qual- 
ities which  I  have  not,  but  which,  as  your  husband,  I  ought  to 
possess.  Only  .  jake  your  wishes  known  to  me,  that  I  may  fulfil 
them." 

His  most  holy  consort  repl*  \  to  the  saint ;  "  I  am  well  pleased 
that  the  Most  High,  having  destined  me  for  marriage,  has  had  the 
goodness  to  choose  you  for  my  husband  and  my  master,  and,  with 
your  permission,  I  will  now  express  the  thoughts  and  intentions 
which  1  wish  to  impart  to  you  on  this  subject." 

The  prevenient  grace  of  the  Most  High  inflamed  anew  the  heart 
of  St.  Joseph  with  His  divine  lov3.  "  Speak,"  he  said,  "  for  thy 
servant  heareth."  The  Queen  of  the  univei-se  was  attended  by  her 
thousand  angels;  for  the  most  pnre  Mary  comprehended  the 
respect  and  attention  to  be  observed  in  conveijation  with  lier 
spouse ;  and  that  sue  might  have  more  abundant  grace  and  meritf*, 
the  Loi'd  had  continued  in  her  the  reserve  and  fear  that  she  had 
in  speaking  alone  with  a  man,  which  liad  never  before  hapjiened 
to  her,  excent  it  might  be  in  some  casuitl  encounter  with  the  chief- 
priest.  The  august  Virgin  tlien  said  to  St,  Joseph  :  "  It  is  just  that 
we  offer  thanks,  and  give  glory  and  praise  to  our  God  and  Creator, 
who  has  made  His  jnercy  to  shine  u?)on  us,  in  choosing  us  for  Ilia 


CHAP.  I.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


11 


service.  In  my  most  tender  youth,  T  consecrated  myself  to  God 
by  a  vow  which  I  made,  to  be,  during  all  my  life,  chaste  ir  body 
and  ramd,  and  my  desire  to  preserve  my  faith  to  Him  is  unchanffe- 
able.  I  trust  that  you  will  help  me  to  fulfil  this  vow,  and  in  all 
things  else  I  will  oe  your  servant.  Accept,  my  husband,  this  holy 
resolution,  and  confirm  it  by  your  own,  so  that  we  may  obtain  the 
eternal  joys  for  which  we  ixspire." 

The  chaste  Joseph,  filled  with  j<,y,  replied:  «In  declaring  to 
me  your  chaste  thoughts  and  holy  resolutions,  you  have  penetrated 
and  opened  my  heart,  which,  until  you  had  revealed  your  own  I 
wa.  unwilling  to  uncover.  The  Lord  called  me,  also,  at  an  early 
age,  that  I  should  love  Him  with  an  upright  mind.  Know,  then 
that  m  my  twelfth  year  I,  too,  made  a  promise  to  serve  God  in' 
perpetual  chastity.  I  now  renew  this  vow,  and,  v.  >]  His  grace  1 
will  be  your  faithful  servant,  and  I  pray  you  to  receive  my  chas'te 
aitections,  and  to  regard  me  as  your  brother." 

During  this  conversation  the  Most  High  confirmed  anew  in  the 
heart  ot  St.  Joseph  the  virtue  of  chastity,  and  the  pure  and  holy 
love  which  he  should  bear  to  the  blessed  Virgin,  his  spouse.  Thug 
he  was  possessed  by  this  love  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  our  august 
Queen  augmented  it,  and  enraptured  his  heart  by  her  conversation. 
By  t.-is  divine  assistance  the  holy  spouses  enjoyed  inexpressible 
cronsolation.  The  august  Queen  promised  to  second  the  desires  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  the  Most  High  imbued  him  with  such  an  exalted 
purity,  and  such  an  absolute  control  of  his  passions,  that  he  served 
his  consort  without  obstacle,  and  with  a  grace  as  admirable  as  it 
was  extraordinary.  In  serving  her,  he  followed  the  -vill  and  the 
good  pleasure  of  the  Lord. 

They  made  a  division  of  the  effects  which  St.  Joachim  -ml  St 
Anne  had  left  to  their  blessed  child.  One  part  was  offered  to  tho 
Temple,  where  she  had  been  educated  ;  the  second  was  devoted  to 
the  service  of  the  poor;  and  the  third  was  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
St.  Joseph.  For  herself,  our  Queen  reserved  only  the  care  to  serve 
and  employ  hei-self  within  the  house,  for  she  dispensed  herself 
always  from  the  affairs  of  !)uyiiig  and  selling. 

In  his  youth  St.  Joseph  "ha.i  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  aa 
being  one  of  the  most  useful  to  gain  a  livelihood,  for  he  was  with- 


^.4        Ts- 


iS^i 


i>i.. 


.«klit3a<t  nmim-itmii^*M^', 


^ 


m 


td 


?j^^,j;^  fiif 


U-.  -  ;_  ,  4v, 


rr:aa; 


••eS'S 


12 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[chap.  I. 


out  property.  He  inquired  of  his  saintly  spouse  if  she  would  con- 
sent that  he  should  practise  this  ti-ade  to  gain  something  for  the 
poor,  and  also  as  a  means  to  avoid  idleness.  The  most  prudent 
Virgin  consented,  and  reminded  St.  Joseph  that  it  was  not  the  will 
of  God  they  should  be  rich,  but  poor,  and  protectors  of  the  poor, 
so  far  as  their  abilities  permitted.  After  this,  the  two  holy  spouses 
had  an  humble  dispute,  in  which  each  wished  to  obey  the  other  as 
superior.  But  the  most  humble  Mary,  who  was  the  humblest  of 
the  humble,  was  victorious  in  her  humility,  and  the  man  being  the 
head,  she  would  not  permit  the  order  of  nature  to  be  reversed. 
She  therefore  obtained  the  consent  of  her  husband  to  receive  her 
obedience  in  all  things.  She  asked  only  permission  to  give  alms 
to  the  poor,  to  which  the  saint  consented. 

During  these  fii-st  days,  St.  Joseph,  by  a  new  light  from  above, 
had  penetrated  the  character  of  his  spouse.  Her  rare  prudence, 
her  profound  humility,  her  incomparable  purity,  and  her  possession 
of  every  virtue  beyond  all  that  he  could  have  hoped,  enraptured 
him  with  admiration.  With  a  spirit  full  of  joy,  and  his  heart 
inflamed  with  ardent  affection,  he  ceased  not  to  praise  the  Lord, 
and  to  offer  Him  thanks  for  having  bestowed  on  him  so  unmerited 
a  treasure.  The  Lord  had  also  so  ordered,  that  the  Queen  of 
Heaven,  by  her  mien  and  by  her  presence,  inspired  her  spouse  with 
such  mingled  sentiments  of  reverence  and  respect,  that  we  find  no 
terras  to  express  them.  To  the  eyes  of  St.  Joseph  a  radiant  splen- 
dor shone  from  the  features  of  our  Lady,  like  that  of  Moses  w'aen  he 
descended  from  the  mount. 

Afterwai-ds,  in  a  vision,  the  Blessed  Virgin  heard  these  words  • 
"  You  perceive  how  faithful  I  am  in  my  promises :  the  companion- 
ship of  my  servant  Joseph  will  aid  you  to  preserve  the  laws  of  my 
spouse ;  obey  him  as  you  ought,  and  be  careful  of  his  happiness." 
She  replied:  "With  the  divine  favor  and  help,  I  will  obey  Thy 
servant  Joseph,  and  serve  him." 

Their  marriage  had  been  celebrated  on  the  8th  of  September, 
and  until  the  25th  of  March,  when  the  Word  became  Incarnate, 
the  two  spouses  had  lived  in  such  wise  that  the  Most  High  pre- 
pared them  for  the  work  for  which  they  had  been  chosen. 

But  let  us  pause  to  express  our  joy  on  witnessing  the  fortunate 


m^ 


m 


EFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


13 


i 


'^ 


CHAP.  I.] 

destiny  of  the  happii        nong  mortals,  St.  Joseph.     Whence  comes 
to  thee,  O  man  of  G  >l,  so  eminent  a  benediction,  that  among  all 
the  chddren  of  Adam  it  can  be  said  of  thee  alcne,  that  God  has 
been  so  entirely  thine  that  He  was  taken  for  thy  Soa  ?     The  eternal 
Father  gives  thee  His  daughter;  the  Son  places  His  own  Mother 
in  thy  charge;  the  Holy  Spirit  confides  to  thee  His  spouse,  and 
places  thee  in  His  stead,  and  the  Holy  Trinity  gives  thee  His  elect 
His  only  one,  for  thy  lawful  spouse.     Great  saint,  dost  thou  then 
comprehend  all  thy  dignity?  Dost  thou  fathom  all  thy  greatness? 
Dost  thoa  know  that  she  whom  thou  hast  just  received  as  thy  wife 
IS  Queen  and  Mistress  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  that  thou  ait  the 
depositary  of  the  inestimable  treasures  of  God  himself?    Behold, 
O  man  of  God,  the  precious  pledge  thou  hast,  and  know  that  if  thou 
dost  not  render  the  angels  and  the  seraphim  envious,  thy  happiness 
and  the  wonderful  mystery  of  thine  espousals  excite  their  wonder' 
ing  admiration.     For  such  joys  and  favoi-s  leceive  congratulations 
in  the  name  of  the  whole  human  race.     For  thou  art  the  spouse  of 
her  who  has  only  God  above  her.     Thou  shalt  be  powerful  and 
happy  among  men  and  angels.     Be  mindful  of  our  poverty  and 
wretchedness,  and  of  me,  miserable  worm  of  the  earth,  for  I  desire 
to  be  thy  faithful  servant,  and  to  be  enriched  and  favored  by  thy 
])owerful  protection. 


ims^ 


h. 


^rp^t!^ 


14 


I,TFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


m.) 


mm 


M 


^■<A^ 


&«<*" 


en  AFTER. II. 

TIIK  GLORIOUS   ST.  JOSKPII,  C0N8IDKRKD  IN   ALL  THB  CIRCUMSTANCES  THAT  CON- 
CKRN  TIIK   MY8TKRY   OF  THE  VISITATION   OF  THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN,  HIS  WIFE. 

It  19  recorded  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  (Prov.  xxxi.  11),  in  refer- 
ence to  Maiy:  "The  heart  of  her  hushand  trusteth  in  her,  and  he 
shall  have  no  need  of  spoils."     Certain  it  is  that  the  holy  Joseph 
was  called  the  husband  of  Mary,  because  she  was  his  lawful  wife. 
It  is  equally  evident  that  he  trusted  in  her,  hoping  that  through 
her  incomparable  virtue,  all  things  to  be  desired  would  follow  her. 
But  he  trusted  in  her,  most  of  all,  a  little  later,  when,  still  m  igno- 
rance of  the  mystery,  he  saw  her  with  child  ;  because,  then  he  be- 
lieved,  and  trusted  in  hope  against  hope,  for,  from  the  evidence 
which  appeared,  he  could  find  no  satisfaction  but  in  his  confidence 
in  the  holiness  of  such  a  woman.     Ard  although  he  resolved  to 
leave  her,  because  he   saw  the   effect   before  his   eyes,  knowing 
nothing  of  tl.o  cause,  still  he  dared  not  doubt  either  her  modesty 
or  her  discretion,  neither  could  he  separate  himself  from  the  pure 
and  holy  love  with  which  the  most  chaste  heart  of  such  a  wife  had 

inspired  him. 

Thus  he  neither  considered  himself  deceived  nor  poor  in  spoils, 
—for  if  all  be  termed  spoils  which  is  above  what  is  necessary,  all 
was  in  superabundance  for  this  happy  husband,  when  he  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  dignity  of  his  wife,  and  of  that  which  was  in- 
closed within  her  bosom.  In  fact,  the  truly  chaste  and  faithful 
Joseph  (who  took  the  utmost  care  of  all  that  concerned  our  holy 
Esthei,  and  who  influenced  her  continually  to  pray  for  the  freedom 
of  his  i)eople,  for  this  was  the  ordimiry  occupation  of  our  incom- 
parable saint  and  his  most  pure  spouse)  was  elevated  by  her  means 
to  such  an  extraordinary  sanctity  and  so  excellent  a  dignity,  that 
the  Supreme  Majesty  gave  him  His  seal-ring,  so  that  by  this  mark 
of  honor  he  should  command  the  same  God  made  man,  who  was 
submitted  to  him,  as  it  is  said  by  the  Evangelist,  Luke,  ii.  51. 
Let  us  not  forget  to  record  that  the  Word  made  man,  as  soon 


% 


0J 


t'A 


0HA1».  U.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


15 


as  He  Imd  been  conceived  in  the  chaste  womb  of  the  most  pure 
Mary,  having  first  performed  His  duties  towards  God,  prayed  for 
Ills  Mother  and  for  St.  Joseph,  supplicating  for  tliem  eternal  bless- 
ediiesa. 

The  august  Mary,  aged  fourteen  years,  six  months,  and  seventeen 
days,  had  conceived  in  her  blessed  womb  the  Word  made  man 
under  t  e  miraculous  circumstances  which  may  be  seen  in  her  life* 
Now  she  learned  from  the  discoui^e  of  the  celestial  ambassador  St 
Gabriel,  that  her  cousin  Elizabeth  had  conceived  six  months  before 
The  Most  High  had  revealed  to  her  that  the  sou  of  Elizabeth  would 
be  great  before  the  Lord,  that  he  would  be  a  prophet  and  the  pre- 
cursor  of  the  Incarnate  Word.  At  the  same  time,  our  blessed 
Lady  knew  that  it  would  be  pleasing  to  the  Lord  if  she  should 
visit  her  cousin,  in  order  that  the  son,  whom  she  bore  in  )ier  womb 
might  be  sanctified  by  the  presence  of  their  Saviour.  ' 

Tiie  Most  High  said  to  her:  "I  will  that  you  go  and  visit  Eliza- 
beth,  because  We  choose  her  son  for  great  things,  which  are  of  Our 
good  pleasure."     The  prudent  Mary  replied:  "My  heart  and  my 
desires  are  entirely  consecrated  to  Thy  divine  will,  and  I  will  exe- 
cute with  diligence  all  that  Thou  shalt  command  Thy  most  humble 
handmaid  to  perform.    Allow  me  to  ask  permission  of  Joseph,  my 
husband,  that  I  may  make  this  journey  with  his  consent." 
^  After  this  vision,  the  humble  Mary  resolved  to  ask  the  permis- 
sion  of  St.  Joseph ;  and,  without  revealing  to  him  the  command  of 
God,  but  with  rare  prudence,  she  said:  "I  know,  by  a  divine  illu- 
mination, that  the  goodness  of  the  Most  High  has  favored  my  cousin 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Zachariah,  in  giving  her  a  son,  whom  she  had  so 
greatly  desired.     I  think  I  am  obliged  by  customaiy  usage  to  go 
and  visit  her,  to  oflfer  my  sympathy,  and  to  promote  her  spiritual 
welfare.     If  this  journey  be  agreeable  to  you,  I  will  make  it,  with 
your  permission,  being  entirely  submissive  to  your  will.     Consider 
what  will  be  for  the  best,  and  tell  me  what  I  shall  do."     The  dis- 
creet silence  and  humble  submission  of  Mary  were  pleasing  to  the 
Lord.     He  therefore  disposed  the  heai-t  of  Joseph  by  a  divine 

Guided  by  this  celestial  light,  the  holy 


light  to  do  as  she  desirec 


:^o -e  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  Cile  Mystique. 


|t?Sfl 


Y 


mm 


i 


,_:s'^ 


MHsr; 


\^1 


riJ 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSIiPn. 


j<^>---'gfc?> 


[chap.  n. 


Y 


Vv 


^^^Jl 


% 


husband  replied:  "I  confide  as  I  ought  in  your  groat  virtue,  be- 
cause I  know  that  your  well-regulated  will  would  undertake  nothing 
which  is  not  for  the  greater  glory  of  God,  as  this  journey  must  be. 
And  that  no  one  may  be  surprised  to  see  you  go  without  your  hus- 
band, I  will,  with  the  greatest  pleasure,  accompany  and  serve  you. 
Determine,  then,  the  day  of  departure." 

The  blessed  Virgin  thanked  her  prudent  spouse  for  the  aft'ection 
which  he  manifested  for  her,  and  they  decided  to  set  out  imme- 
diately for  the  house  of  Elizabeth.  St.  Joseph  prepared  provisions 
for  the  journey,— some  fruit,  bread,  and  a  tew  small  fishes,  which 
he  purchased.  He  had  also  a  little  beast  of  burden,  which  was 
lent  him  to  carry  his  provisions,  and  his  spouse,  the  Queen  of  all 
that  is  created.  With  this  equipage  they  set  out  for  Judea.  They 
had  scarcely  left  their  house,  when  our  Queen,  kneeling  before  St. 
Joseph,  asked  his  blessing,  in  order  to  begin  the  day  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord.  The  saint  hesitated,  for,  by  long  experience,  he  knew 
the  excellence  of  his  spouse,  but  the  holy  and  sweet  importunities 
of  the  august  Mary  conquered,  and  he  blessed  her  in  the  name  of 
the  Most  High. 

''At  that  tlme^'  saith  the  sacred  text,  ''Mm-y,  rmng  up,  went  into 
the  hill  cmntry  ^oith  Jimte,  info  a  city  of  Judea:'  Now  the  chaste 
spouses,  Mary  and  Joseph,  having  left  their  father's  house,  and  for- 
gotten their  people,  took  their  way  towards  the  house  of  Zachariah, 
among  the  hills  of  Judea,  distant  twenty-seven  leagues  from  Naza- 
reth. The  roads  were  rough,  and  they  possessed  no  means  of  trans- 
port except  such  as  wei-e  afforded  by  their  little  animal ;  neverthe- 
less the  most  humble  and  modest  of  creatures,  Mary,  prayed  St. 
Joseph  to  use  it  for  himself.  The  discreet  spouse  would  not,  by 
any  means,  consent  to  this;  but  in  complaisance,  he  allowed  her 
from  time  to  time  to  go  on  foot  with  him,  requesting  her  with 
great  respect  not  to  refuse  him  this  gratification ;  and  the  Queen 
of  heaven  obeyed. 

They  continued  their  journey  iu  these  humble  debates,  and  thus 
they  so  well  employed  their  time,  that  there  was  not  a  moment 
which  was  not  filled  by  some  act  of  virtue.  They  walked  alone, 
but  the  angels  assisted  them  in  all  things ;  yet  they  were  visible 
only  to  the  august  Mary.     Occasionally  she  conversed  with  these 


CHAP.  II.] 


LIFE   OF  8T.  JOSEPn. 


17 


nngel«,  and  the  moat  pure  heart  of  our  sweet  Lady  was  kindled 
anew  with  divine  love.  St.  Joseph  contributed  to  all  this  by  his 
discreet  silence,  concentrating  his  thoughts  within,  and  yieldii.o- 
himself  to  sublime  contemplations.  At  other  times  the  spouse^s 
convei-sed  together  upon  many  things  regarding  the  salvation  of 
their  souls,  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  the  prophecies  which  the 
ancient  fathers  had  i-eceived  ou  this  point,  and  other  mysteries  and 
secrets  of  the  Most  Hisrh. 

During  this  journey  there  happened  to  St.  Joseph  something 
which  excited  his  Avouder.     Inspired  by  a  special  grace,  he  bore  to 
his  spouse  a  most  tender  and  holy  love,  and  the  saint,  being  of  a 
noble  nature,  amiable,  agreeable,  and  obliging,  was  inclined  to  an 
ever  watchful  care  for  her.     Now,  as  the  Queen  of  heaven  carried 
in  her  virginal  bosom  the  Incarnate  Word,  the  saint  was  sensible 
that,  through  the  words  and  conversation  of  his  spouse,  new  im 
pressions  were  made  upon  his  soul,  but  of  the  cause  he  was  igno- 
rant.     He  found  himself  more  and  more  inflamed  by  divine  love 
and  in  a  higher  knowledge  of  those  mysteries  which  formed  the 
subjects  of  their  conversation ;  and  the  further  they  advanced  on 
their  way  and  in  their  discussions,  the  more  these  favors  were 
augmented.     He  felt  also  that  the  words  of  his  spouse  served  as  the 
organ,  by  means  of  which  these  favors  were  communicated  to  him. 
It  wjis  not  possible  that  the  discreet  St.  Joseph  should  not  reflect 
upon  this  new  and  wonderful  influence.     Bift  although  it  would 
have  aflfbrded  him,  filled  as  he  was  with  wonder,  the  greatest  grati- 
fication, without  curiosity,  to  have  been  informed  of  the  cause  of  it, 
his  inodesty  was  such  that  he  could  not  venture  to  ask  to  be  en- 
lightened. 

Our  blessed  Lady  penetrated  the  thought  of  her  spouse,  but,  ig- 
norant  of  the  way  by  which  God  would  conduct  this  mystery,  her 
great  pi-udence  and  her  own  discretion  taught  her,  although  she  had 
no  command  from  the  Lord  to  conct'al  it,  how  good  it  was  to  guard 
the  seci-et  of  the  most  sublime  of  all  mysteiies.  She  therefore  con- 
cealed it,  without  making  it  known  to  her  spouse,  either  on  this 
occasion,  or  aftei'wards,  duiing  the  interior  pains  which  St.  Jo- 
seph suffered  on  this  account.  What  admirable  prudence !  Our 
sweet  Lady  prayed  to  God  for  the  saint,  imploring  the  divine  aa- 


>py. 


y 


.-» 


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sistanco,  of  which  she  foresaw  he  would  have  need,  and  of  which 
we  sliall  treat  in  the  following  chapter. 

This  was  the  first  joui-ney  which  the  Incarnate  Word  made  in 
this  world,  fonr  days  after  his  entrance  into  it.  Our  ble,ssed  Lady 
thus  served  as  a  car  for  the  true  Solomon  (Cant.  iii.  9).  This 
jouraey  lasted  four  days,  during  which  our  holy  travellei-s,  besides 
those  interior  virtues  which  have  God  for  their  object,  performed 
many  acts  of  charity  towards  their  neighbors.  The  blessed  Vii-gin 
cuied,  among  othei-s,  a  poor  sick  gii'l,  in  a  village  through  which 
she  passed,  on  the  first  day  of  her  departure. 

At  length  the  august  Mary  and  her  spouse,  Joseph,  arrived  at 
the  city  of  Judea,  which  was  then  inhabited  by  Elizabeth  and  Zach- 
ariah.  This  city  was  distant,  as  I  have  said,  twenty-seven  leagues 
from  Nazareth,  Pnd  about  two  leagues  from  Jerusalem,  near  the 
spot  where  the  torrent  of  Sorec  has  its  source.  It  was  afterwards 
entirely  ruined,  but  the  Lord  does  not  permit  the  memory  of  places 
so  venerable  to  be  altogether  lost.  Tlie  Visitation  was  made  at  the 
same  iilace  whore  these  divine  mysteries  are  now  honored  by  the 
faithful  who  dwell  in  Palestine,  and  by  pilgrims  who  go  there  to 
oft'er  their  devotions. 

St.  Joseph  went  on  before  to  give  notice  to  the  inmates  of  the 
house,  and,  having  knocked  at  the  door,  he  sainted  them,  saying : 
"  May  the  Loi-d  be  with  you,  and  fill  your  souls  with  His  divine 
grace."  St.  Elizabeth  had  been  already  warned  of  their  coming, 
for  the  same  Lord  had  revealed  -to  her  that  her  cousin  Mary  of 
Nazareth  was  on  1..  r  way  to  visit  her.  Now,  having  heard  of  her 
arrival,  she  came  forth  quickly,  with  others  of  her  family,  to  receive 
the  holy  Virgin,  who  saluted  her  first,  saying:  ''The  Lord  he  with 
you,  my  dear  condnr  ''And  rmy  the  same  Lord:'  replied  Eliza- 
beth, "  reward  you  for  having  taken  the  trouI>le  to  give  me  this  con- 

iolationr 

The  two  cousins  having  retired  together,  it  was  then  that  the 
great  mystery  of  the  sanctification  of  John  the  Baptist  was  operated; 
but  those  facts  do  not  belong  to  this  history.  Coming  out  of  their 
retreat  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  St.  Elizabeth,  who  was  informed 
of  the  happiness  of  the  chaste  St.  Joseph,  of  which  he  was  himself 
Ignorant,  bestowed  upon  him  every  mark  of  esteem  and  veneration. 


% 


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i 


OF  ST.  JOSEPH 


19 


After  tlio  saint  had  passed  three  dayg  in  the  house  of  Zuchariah 
be  tisked  permission  of  his  blessed  spouse  to  return  to  Nazareth' 
He  took  leave,  with  the  promise  to  come  and  conduct  our  sweet 
Lady  home  when  she  wished  to  return.  St.  Elizabeth  offered 
him  presents,  praying  him  to  accept  them,  but  he  received  only  a 
few  things,  because  this  man  of  God  was  not  only  a  lover  of  poverty, 
but  he  had  also  a  magnanimous  and  generous  heart.  He  then  took 
the  road  to  Nazareth  with  the  little  beast  that  he  had  boirowed. 
Having  arrived  at  his  house,  he  was  served  there,  in  the  absence 
of  his  spouse,  by  a  relative  who  lived  near,— the  same  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  bring  them  supplies  from  without,  when  the 
holy  Lady  was  there. 

After  having  passed  three  months,  less  two  days,*  in  the  house 
of  Ziichariah,  in  the  midst  of  events  and  prodigies  which  do  not  be- 
long to  this  history,f  the  august  Mary  thought  of  departure.     St. 
Joseph,  having  been  notified  by  St.  Elizabeth,  left  Nazareth  to  re- 
conduct his  spouse  to  her  home.     On  his  arrival  at  the  house  of 
Zachariah,  he  was  received  with  the  highest  marks  of  respect,  for 
the  holy  priest  already  knew  that  the  great  patriarch  was  the  de- 
positary of  the  mysteries  and  the  treasures  of  heaven.    The  blessed 
Virgin  received  him  with  discreet  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  having 
placed  herself  on  her  knees  before  him,  according  to  her  custom, 
she  asked  his  benediction.    After  he  had  taken  some  repose,  they 
fixed  on  the  day  of  departure.    Having  taken  their  leave,  the  happy 
patriarch,  rejoiced  to  possess  his  trejisure  again,  although  he  knew 
not  as  yet  its  full  value,  set  out  for  Nazareth.    The  blessed  Virgin, 
as  usual,  asked  his  blessing,  and,  pursuing  their  way,  in  four  days 
they  reached  their  place  of  destination.     During  their  i-oute,  the 
same  effects  attended  their  divine  colloquies  as  those  which  have 
been  ali-eady  indicated. 

The  discreet  Mary  perceived  that  she  could  not  long  conceal  hei 
condition  from  her  chaste  and  faithful  spouse.    But  the  Lord  guided 

*  In  counting  eight  days  afti;r  tlie  Word  was  incarnate,  the  holy  Virgin  and  St, 
Joseph  arrived  the  second  of  April,  towards  evening,  at  the  house  of  Zacliariah.  If 
wo  add  three  months,  less  two  days,  which  should  commence  the  third  of  April,  we 
come  to  the  fust  of  July  inclusively,  which  is  the  eighth  day  after  the  birth  of  JoLn 
the  Uaptist,  and  tliat  of  his  circumcision. 

t  All  these  deUils  will  be  found  iu  the  Cite  Mystique  of  Maria  d'Agreda. 


fe$W8:tf 


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Lll'E   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


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nil  by  nieims  the  most  conaucive  to  His  glory,  and  to  obtain  meritJi 
for  St.  Josei.h  ami  the  Virgin  Mother.  For  thi^  reason  He  did 
not  make  known  to  them  His  good  pleasure.  On  their  journey, 
the  august  Queen  met  with  a  woman  who  had  once  been  virtuous, 
but  who,  tempted  by  the  devil,  was  led  into  sin,  and  afterwards  | 
possessed  by  him.  As  soon  as  our  blessed  Lady  saw  her,  she  dis- 
covei-ed  her  malady,  and,  using  her  queenly  power,  commanded  the 
evil  spirit  to  depai-t  from  the  woman,  and,  having  delivered  her 
from  the  consequences  of  her  sin,  she  obtained  for  her  the  gift  of 
peweverance. 

Our  holy  travellera  arrived  one  day  at  an  hostelry,  the  master 
of  which  was  of  a  vicious  disposition,  and  led  a  disorderly  life. 
The  Lord  ordained,  as  the  preparation  for  his  coming  happiness, 
that  he  should  receive  the  august  Maiy  and  St.  Joseph  with  marks 
of  benevolence  and  consideration.  He  bestowed  attentions  and 
rendered  them  services  beyond  those  he  was  accustomed  to  offer  to 
other  strangers.  Our  Queen,  who  knew  the  depraved  state  of  his 
conscience,  offered  prayei-s  for  her  host,  and  procured  the  justifica- 
tion of  his  soul,  and  the  amendment  of  his  life. 

At  length  they  reached  Nazareth,  when  the  Qu.jn  of  heaven, 
assisted  by  the  holy  angels,  put  her  hous»>  in  order.  St.  Joseph 
occupied  himself,  as  usual,  for  the  subsistence  of  our  Lady,  and  she 
did  nothing  to  damp  the  hopes  of  her  spouse.  After  her  return 
home,  Lucifer  tempted  the  august  Mary  in  every  way,  but  he  was 
vanquished  with  all  his  infernal  legions,  and  piecipitated  into  the 
depths  of  hell.  While  the  Lord  had  permitted  Lucifer  to  show 
himself,  this  enemy  had  contiived  to  sow  discord  among  the  neigh- 
bors of  St.  Joseph.  They  came  togethei',  and,  having  called  for  the 
innocent  Mary,  they  accused  her  in  the  presence  of  her  husband, 
and  in  the  bittei-est  terms,  of  troubling  the  peace  of  their  families. 
This  reproach  was  keenly  felt  ])y  our  Queen,  because  of  the  pain 
whiJi  it  caused  to  her  spouse,  for  he  had  begun  to  remark  some- 
thing of  her  condition ;  and  already  suffered  anxiety  and  trouble 
on  this  account,  as  we  shall  see  in  the  following  chapter.  Now, 
the  deiTion,  ignorant  of  the  real  cause  of  this  trouble,  strove  to  plant 
tlu'  seeds  of  discontent  within  the  bosom  of  St.  Joseph,  so  as  to 
make  him  impatient  of  his  poverty ;  representing  to  him  at  the 


■^n! 


\l 


I 


i!iiAP.  n.] 


LIVK  OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


21 


minfi  time  that  his  spouse  Mary  remained  too  long  in  ],(.,•  retreat 
an.l  devotions,  and  t!mt  slie  was  idle.  But  St.  Joseph  being  of  an 
upright  and  magnanimous  heart,  and  of  great  perfection,  despised 
these  diabolical  inventions,  and  utterly  rejected  them.  Besides  his 
internal  suffering  regarding  the  sta'.i  of  his  spouse,  occupied  him  so 
exclusively,  that  it  obliged  him  to  forget  every  other.  The  Lord 
delivered  him  fi-om  this  temptation  by  the  intercession  of  the  holy 
Virgin,  leaving  only  that  of  which  we  are  about  to  speak  in  the 
following  chapter. 


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LIl'K   or   ST.  JO^KPII, 


[chap.  m. 


hti 


it 


i 


CHAPTER  III. 

«T.  joHRrn  niscovKiis  that  maky  is  aiiout  to  ukcumk  a  uotiikr,  without 

IIKIXO    AIILK  TO    I'KNICrilATK  THK    MYSTKUi'.      HB   KNDUllKH   GRKAT   SUKKKIUNOfl 
ON   THIH   ACCOUNT. 

It  wfts  nhout  five  months  since  the  eternal  Word  had  become 
incarnate  in  the  chaHte  bosc.m  of  the  Viigin  Mary,  when  St.  Josepli 
began  to  observe  indications  of  it,  and  to  entertain  suspicions.     It 
wius  the  more  aj^parent,  because  the  proportions  of  her  pure  form 
were  so  perfect,  that  the  least  change  was  perceptible.     Det'ply 
concerned  and  an.vious,  St.  Joseph,  as  he  one  day  observed  her 
coming  forth  fi-om  hei-  oratory,  j)erceived  that  it  was  no  longer  pos- 
sible to  doubt  the  testimony  of  his  own  eyes.     The  heart  of  the 
man  of  God  was  penetrated  with  profound  sorrow,  and  he  was 
unable  to  resist  the  harrowing  reflections  that  tormented  his  8])irit. 
It  may  not  be  without  utility  or  interest  to  notice  some  of  these 
reflections,  which  increased  the  violence  of  his  great  affliction.     In 
the  fii'st  j)lace,  he  entertained  a  most  chaste  and  sincere  love  for 
his  faithful  spouse,  to  whom,  since  the  commencement  of  their  union, 
he  had  devoted  all  the  tenderness  of  his  heart.     Besides,  his  desire 
to  scive  her  was  augmented  from  day  to  day  by  the  unequalled 
liolin^'ss  and  attractive  mannei-s  of  our  blessed  Lady.     Our  saint 
therefore,  was  impelled,  by  a  desire  natural  to  his  love,  to  find  a 
response  to  it  on  her  part.    The  Lord  so  ordered  it,  that,  from  this 
same  desire,  the  holy  Joseph  was  still  more  careful  to  serve  and 
respect  our  blessed  mistress. 

Thus  St.  Joseph  fulfilled  with  gi-eat  zeal  his  obligations  as  a  most 
faithful  husband  and  guai-dian  of  the  mystery  which,  as  yet,  was 
hidden  fi-om  him.  But  the  more  assiduous  he  was  to  serve,  h:  honor 
his  spouse  while  bearing  for  her  a  love,  so  pure,  ■  Im:'.^,  LcJy,  and 
just,  the  more  eager  wa.s  his  desiie  that  she  should  reciprocate  his 
afi'ection.  Nevertheless  he  did  not  disclose  +1ms  internal  conflict; 
eithei'  because  of  the  respect  produced  by  the  humble  majesty  of 
h)?  snousa,  or  because  in  witnessing  the  discreet  deportment  of 


i 


w 


,^ 


CHAP.  III.J 


LIKE   OF   8T.  .TOflKPII. 


2» 


Mary-hor  hw^h  c,.nro,-He,  nn.l  her  ,„ore  tlmn  niigdic  puritv-tho 
n-vrlatio!,  w.HiM  li-ive  been  too  painful. 

At,  f  l.e  view  of  wlmt  wan  become  ho  evi.lent,  l.e  was  lo«t  in  amaze, 
menf      hf,ll  (),o,,.l,  ..onvinee.!,  I.e  ^ynnh\  n,.t  allow  his  imnmnatio, 
to  go  beyon.l  appearances.     Hei„.  «  J„st  nn.l  holy  man,  an,l  Heei.u^ 
th«  fact    he  8„spen.le.l  his  ju.lgment  without,  entering,  int.,  th. 
cause.     What  an  exan.ple  f.,r  „m!     It  is  m.,.st  ,,robable  that  if  ho 
h«<l  been  conymce.l  of  the  eulpal.ility  ..f  his  wif,.  the  violence  of 
h.H  gnef  woul.l  have  put  an  en.l  to  his  existence.     In  the  seeon^ 
plac,.  his  reflections  remin.le.l  him  that  he  ha.l  nad  no  aijency  i« 
this  c..n,bt,.,n  which  was  but  t.,o  apparent.   Dishonor  was  inevitable 
when  It  HhouM  become  known  ;  and,  as  St.  Joseph  was  of  a  gener- 
ous and  noble  heart,  this  a,>prehension  gave  him  great  pain      Be- 
Hules,  he  considered,  with  rare  pru.lence,  the  affliction  .^hich  their 
own  .nfamy  would  bring  npo„  them  if  the  matter   o.me  to  be 
divulged. 

Rut  that  which  cause.1  the  greatest  grief  of  all  to  the  holy  spouse 
was  he  fear  that  his  wife  would  be  stoned,  accor.ling  to  the  law 
wh.ch  ordered  this  punishment;  for  he  coul.l  not  make  himself  an 
aocc.n.plice  to  hide  the  crime,  if  it  existed.  AH  these  considerations 
p.erco.l  the  heart  of  St.  Joseph  with  the  deepest  grief,  in  which  he 
foun.l  no  conso]ati.)n  except  in  the  irreproachable  conduct  of  his 
spouse.  Still,  on  the  oth.-r  hand,  though  appearances  convinced 
him,  he  could  neither  find  means  of  excuse,  nor  even  dare  to  com- 
municate the  subject  of  his  grief  to  any  human  being.  Our  saint 
was  then  like  one  environed  by  the  sorrows  of  death,  and  he  felt 
the  force  of  the  words,  ''Jealousy  is  as  cruel  as  helV 

He  would  have  sought  some  alleviation  for  his  pains  in  spiritual 
consolation,  but  grief  suspended  the  powers  of  his  s.)ul  If  his 
leason  inclined  to  follow  the  suspicions  suggested  by  his  senses,  the 
reflections  that  he  made  on  the  trie.l  h..liness  of  his  mast  wise  and 
l)rudent  spouse  caused  them  to  vanish  like  ice  in  the  heat  of  the 
su„  or  smoke  bef.,re  the  win.l.  If  he  strove  to  check  the  affections 
of  lus  chaste  love,  it  was  impossible,  since  he  found  his  spouse 
always  more  worthy  of  being  loved.  An.l  although  the  truth  was 
concealed  from  him,  she  ha.l  more  power  to  attract,  than  the  seem- 
ing deception  of  her  infidelity  to  repel  him.     The  sacred  ties  of 


\XTX:^C^ 


It 


i.jt  i 


y^'i 


love  could  not  Le  rent  asunder,  because  they  reposed  on  the  solid 
foundations  of  truth,  reason,  and  justice. 

Our  saint  did  not  then  judge  it  expedient  to  declare  his  grief  to 
his  blessed  spouse,  added  to  this,  the  gravity,  ever  equal  and 
divinely  humble,  which  he  saw  in  her,  did  not  pei-mit  him  to  take 
this  liberty ;  for,  although  he  saw  marks  so  unequivocal,  a  conduct 
so  pure  and  holy  as  hers  could  ill  accord  with  infidelity.  Such  a 
f'lult  could  not  in  any  manner  be  compatible  with  so  much  purity, 
holiness,  and  discretion ;  nor  with  that  assemblage  of  graces  whose 
growth  was  each  day  more  visible  in  the  august  Mary. 

In  these  perplexities  the  saintly  husband  addressed  himself  to 
God  in  prayer.  Placing  himself  in  His  presence,  "Eternal  God 
and  my  Lord,"  lie  said,  "  my  desires  and  my  groaniiigs  are  not  hid- 
den from  Thy  divine  Majesty.  I  find  myself  struggling  with  vio- 
lent agitations,  I  have  given  my  heart  to  the  spouse  whom  I  received 
from  Thy  hands,  I  have  trusted  in  her  purity,  but  the  strange  ap- 
pearances wh.ich  I  discover  in  her  cast  me  into  the  most  afflicting 
pei-plexity.  It  would  be  rash  to  think  that  she  had  been  unfivith- 
ful  and  had  oflt'ended  Tliee,  seeing  in  her  such  gi-eat  purity  and  so 
eminent  a  holiness.  It  is,  nevertheless,  impossible  to  deny  the 
evidence  of  my  senses,  and  sorrow  must  destroy  me  unless  there  be 
here  some  mystery  that  I  have  not  discovered.  Reason  exculpates, 
but  the  senses  condemn  her.  I  see  plainly  that  she  conceals  from 
me  the  cause  of  her  condition.  What  shall  I  do?  I  suspend  my 
judgment,  ignorant  of  the  cause  of  what  I  see.  Receive,  O  God  of 
Abi-aham,  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob,  my  sighs  and  ray  tears,  as  an  ac- 

^    cepta1)le  sacrifice.     I  cannot  believe  that  Mary  has  offended  Thee ; 

^^     but,  Ix^ing  her  husband,  I  cannot  presume  the  existence  of  any 
mystery  of  which  I  can  be  unworthy.'" 

Saint  Joseph  pei-seveied  in  his  supplications  and  united  with 

A    them  many  other  affections  and  prayei's.     He  thought  there  must 

■  {  be  in  all  this  some  mystery,  but  his  humility  hindered  him  from 
\  bein.f  assured  on  this  point.  K\\  the  reasons  that  presented  them- 
selves in  favor  cf  the  holiness  of  oui-  niosit  sweet  Lady,  contributed 
only  to  persuade  him  that  she  had  committed  no  fault.  At  the  same 
time  the  saint  never  thought  of  her  being  the  mother  of  the  Messiah, 
for  he  could  not  have  ])elieved  himself  woi'thy  to  ])e  her  spouse. 


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CHAP.  III.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSKPH. 


2.*) 


Sometimes  lie  suspended  his  suspicions;  at  others  appearances 
augmented  them.  Sometimes  he  was  overwhelmed  by  ac^itation  • 
sometnues  in  an  aching  calm,  without  power  to  resolve  or  to  believJ 
any  th.nig.  He  could  neither  vanquish  his  doubts  nor  appease  hi. 
heart,  nor  find  that  certitu.le  of  which  he  had  so  nmch  need  t., 
regulate  his  conduct  and  to  calm  his  mind.  And  thus  it  was  t'hat 
;  he  sufferings  of  the  holy  Patri.irch  were  so  cruel.  They  serve  n< 
evident  proofs  of  his  incomparable  pi-udence  and  sanctitv,  and  they 
gamed  him  such  merits  before  God  as  to  render  him  worthy  of  the 
favors  he  was  about  to  receive. 

Through  the  knowledge  and  infused  light  which  she  possessed 
our  blessed  Lady  saw  all  that  passed  in  the  breast  of  St.  Joseph' 
But,  though  filled  with  tenderness  and  compa..sion  for  the  suffering 
of  her  spouse,  she  spoke  not  on  the  subject  of  his  pain,  but  con- 
tented herself  to  serve  him  with  submission  and  exactitude,  because 
It  was  not  proper  to  disclose  the  secret  of  the  great  King,  without 
an  express  command  from  the  Lord. 

During  this  period,  while  he  was  in  ignorance  of  the  mystery  of 
his  spouse,  St.  Joseph  thought  it  his  duty  to  maintain  his  superior- 
ity, yet  with  great  moderation.    In  this  he  imitated  the  ancient 
Patriarchs,  from  whom  he  would  not  degenerate,  whose  wives  were 
very  submissive.     Although  just  and  good,  he  therefore  allowed 
himself  to  be  served  and  honored  by  the  Blessed  Virgin  after  their 
espousals,  preserving  in  all  things  his  authority  as  chief,  which  he 
sweetened  by  his  rare  humility  and  great  prudence.     And  he  would 
have  had  cause  for  this  if  our  Lady  had  been  like  other  women.  ^ 
On  her  part,  the  august  Mary  was  most  submissive  and  obedient 
to  her  husband,  and,  although  she  was  above  all,  none  ever  equalled 
her  in  these  qualities.     She  served  her  spouse  with  an  incomparable 
respect  and  promptitude,  and  thus  she  gave  opportunities  to  our 
saint,  while  she  served  him  at  tal)'j,  or  occupied  hei-self  in  other  do- 
mestic aftiiii-s,  to  observe  her  closely,  and,  to  the  great  affliction  of 
Ins  soul,  assure  himself  more  positively  of  the  truth.     It  was  im- 
possible that  in  her  actions  the  signs  of  her  condition  should  not 
be  more  evident,  but  this  did  not  hinder  her  in  her  tasks.     She 
desired  neither  to  excuse  nor  to  justify  herself,  because  this  would 
not  have  accorded  with  the  truth,  nor  with  her  angelical  candor, 


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nor  with  the  grandt^ur  and  generosity  of  her  most  noble  heart ;  and 
the  pains  of  St.  Joseph  found  no  alleviation.  The  Quien  of  heaven 
eould  easily  have  alleged  the  truth  of  her  irreproachable  innocence 
— have  exculpated  herself,  and  relieved  St.  Joseph  of  his  pain  by 
disclosing  the  mystery,  but  slu;  would  not  hazard  the  justification 
of  so  mysterious  a  truth  upon  her  own  testimony,  and,  with  great 
wisdom,  she  abandoned  herself  to  the  divine  Providence.  She 
strove  to  console  and  please  him  in  all  things,  often  asking  what 
he  would  have  her  to  do.  Many  times  she  served  him  on  her 
knees,  and  although  these  loving  ways  might  in  some  sort  console 
the  saintly  spouse,  they  gave  him,  also,  additional  causes  of  afflic- 
tion in  considering  the  many  motives  to  love  and  esteem  her  who 
plunged  him  in  such  perplexity. 

St.  Joseph  could  not  entirely  conceal  his  grief:  thus  he  often 
found  himsylf  pensive,  sad,  and  thoughtful.  Preoccupied  by  his 
sorrows,  he  sometimes  spoke  to  his  spouse  with  more  harshness  than 
formerly.  But  this  was  neither  from  indignation  nor  vengeance, 
for  he  had  no  such  thought-^it  was  merely  the  effect  inseparable 
from  a  wounded  heart.  Our  most  prudent  Lady,  on  her  part, 
changed  nothing  in  her  sweet  manners ;  on  the  contrary,  she  took 
greater  pains  than  ever  to  comfort  her  spouse.  She  served  him  at 
table,  or  offered  him  a  seat.  Without  doubt,  this  painful  season 
was  one  of  those  which  most  exercised  not  only  St.  Joseph  but  our 
bh>ssed  Lady.  Our  incomparable  Queen  offered  continual  suppli- 
cations for  her  spouse  to  the  Most  High,  that  lie  would  vouchsafe 
to  regard  and  console  him.  Li  order  better  to  understand  the  pro- 
found humility  and  the  sublime  wisdom  of  the  august  Mai-y  in 
these  circumstance^.,  it  should  be  undei-stood  that  the  Lord  had  not 
commanded  her  to  keep  the  secret  of  the  mystery  of  the  incarna- 
tion. He  did  not  even  disclose  His  will  on  this  point  with  as  much 
clearness  as  in  other  matters.  It  seemed  that  the  Lord  left  all  to 
the  wisdom  and  to  the  divine  virtues  of  His  elected  one. 

Thus  the  divine  Providence  gave  occasion  to  the  most  pure  Mary, 
and  to  her  most  faithful  spouse,  to  exeirise  by  heroic  actions,  each 
according  to  thf^ir  capacity,  the  virtues  and  gifts  which  He  had 
allotted  them.  He  was  pleased,  as  one  might  say,  to  witness  the 
faith,  the  hope,  the  love,  the  humility  of  these  upright  hearts  in  the 


^p* 


i 


CHAP.  III.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


27 


midst  of  80  poignant  an  affliction.     The  Lord  seemed  deaf  accord- 
nig  to  our  manner  of  speaking,  for  His  greater  glory,  in  order  to 
give  to  the  world  this  example  of  sanctity  and  prudence      He 
waited  until  the  proper  time  to  speak  was  come.     Let  us  under- 
stand  from  this  the  designs  of  God,  and  His  secret  ways  with  the 
souls  whom  He  cherishes,  and  whom  He  would  render  capable  to 
receive  His  favors  and  His  gifte.    We  ought  to  use  every  effort 
and  employ  all  our  care  to  acquire  efficaciously  a  true  resignation 
to  this  divine  Providence.     If  men  only  knew  the  loving  care  of 
this  Father  of  mercy,  they  would  l.e  happy  to  forget  themselves, 
and  cease  to  plunge  into  cares  at  once  burdensome,  useless,  and 
dangerous.     It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  creature  to  let 
himself  be  guided  by  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  because  men  are  igno- 
rant of  His  operations,  and  the  ends  to  which  they  are  to  be  led 
by  them. 

If  God  were  susceptible  of  being  touched  like  men,  by  pain  or 
jealousy.  He  would  suffer,  in  perceiving  that  His  own  creatures  de- 
sire to  seek  the  least  thing  in  any  other  than  Himself.  The  Lord 
regards  the  actions  of  men  ;  He  corrects  their  ftiults  with  love  •  He 
foresees  their  desires;  He  protects  them  in  danger;  He  fortifies 
them  in  their  trials ;  He  assists  them  in  their  afflictions.  None  can 
resist  Him,  or  hinder  His  will.  He  executes  what  He  can  •  He 
can  execute  all  that  He  wills,  and  He  will  give  himself  entirely  to 
the  just  who  are  in  His  grace  and  confide  in  Him  alone.  Who  can 
conceive  the  greatness  and  the  nature  of  the  gifts  which  He  pours 
into  hearts  disposed  to  receive  them  ! 

Let  us  leave  all  to  His  providence,  for  the  Most  High  will  give 
us  wliatever  is  most  sure  and  necessary  for  our  salvation.  Except 
the  pains  which  the  august  Mary  endured  from  those  which  were 
suffered  by  her  most  holy  Son,  the  most  severe  of  all  her  life  were 
caused  by  the  afflictions  and  perplexities  of  St.  Joseph  iu  the  cir 
cumstances  which  we  have  just  related. 


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28 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[CUAP.  IV, 


CHAPTER  IV. 


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THE  SUSPICIONS  OP  ST.  JOSEPH  INCEEASK,  AND  HE  KES0LVE8  TO  LEAVE  IllH  SPOUSE 
— THE  ANGEL  OP  THE  LORD  DECLAKES  TO  UIM  THE  MYSTERY  OP  THE  INCARNA- 
TION. 

i/51'^^  St.  Joseph  endeavored  to  calm  the  painful  agitation  of  his  heart 
jy  doing  his  utmost  to  remove  the  conviction  of  his  mind  i-espect- 
ing  the  condition  of  his  wife.  But  the  indications  which  became 
every  day  more  visible  in  her  holy  person  served  only  to  confirm 
it.  The  furtlier  our  Lady  advanced,  the  more  amiable,  vigorous, 
active,  and  beautiful  she  became ;  and  her  invincible  chai-ms  at- 
tracted his  chaste  love,  without  entirely  allaying  these  conflicting 
passions.  At  length  all  hesitation  was  at  an  end ;  he  could  no 
longer  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  evidence.  His  heart  wiis  conformed 
to  tlje  will  of  God ;  nevertheless,  through  the  weakness  of  the  flesh, 
his  spirit  was  exceedingly  sorrowful,  and  nothing  remained  to  dis- 
sipate his  sadness.  He  felt  his  bodily  strength  diminish — and,  al- 
though no  particular  malady  manifested  itself,  he  grew  thin,  and 
his  countenance  bore  the  marks  of  deep  affliction.  And  as  he  pre- 
served silence,  not  seeking  consolation  elsewhei-e  (as  men  usually 
do),  the  sufferings  of  the  saint  were  naturally  more  intense. 

The  heart  of  the  gentle  Mary  was  penetrated  by  a  sorrow  not 
less  profound  ;  but  she  resolved  to  redouble  her  cares  for  the  health 
o*"  her  spouse.  She  continued  to  conceal  the  mystery  which  she 
had  no  command  to  disclose,  in  order  to  honor  and  to  preserve  the 
secret  of  the  celestial  King.  So  far  as  regarded  he!"self,  she  left 
nothing  undone  to  promote  his  comfort — enti'eating  him  to  remind 
her  of  any  thing  which  might  contribute  to  restore  his  declining 
health.  She  besought  him  to  repose  himself,  and  to  partake  of 
Bome  little  refreshment ;  for  it  was  but  right  to  supply  the  wants 
of  the  body,  in  order  to  obtain  strength  to  labor  for  the  Lord. 

St.  Joseph,  attentive  to  every  movement  of  his  spouse,  and  sen- 
sible of  the  holy  effects  of  her  conversation  and  presence,  said 
within  himself:  "Is  it  possible  that  a  woman  so  holy,  in  whom  tha 


'^)i 


;a 


CHAP.  IV.] 


LIKE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


29 


Kn^ 


giace  of  God  IS  so  perceptible,  can  caat  me  into  such  perplexity? 
What  can  I  find  to  npual  her,  if  I  leave  her?  Where  find  conso- 
Ja  .on,  ,t  she  fad  me  ?  But  all  these  trouble  me  even  less  than  the 
u.ta.ny  that  may  result  from  this  u,d-.ppy  aftair;  or  that  I  should 
^m^  cause  to  beheve  that  I  have  been  the  accomplice  of  a  crime 
n  I  make  niyself  the  author  of  her  condition,  it  will  be  a  falsehood 
unworthy  of  an  honorable  man,  and  opposed  to  my  conscience  and 
.);y  reputation.  In  such  a  state  of  embariassment,  what  shall  I  do  ? 
1  he  least  evd  that  can  happen  is  to  absent  myself-to  leave  the 
house." 

Our  blessed  Lady  being  sincerely  afflicted  by  the  resolution 
which  her  spouse  had  just  taken,  addressed  herself  to  the  an^^els  o 
her  guard:  "You,"  she  said,  "who  obey  with  promptitude  a'll  the 
commands  of  the  Lord,  listen  now  to  my  prayei..  Prevent  my 
spouse,  I  conjure  you,  from  executing  this  intention  which  he  h^ 
".ade  to  absent  himself  from  me."  The  angels  obeyed  their  Queen 
aud  silently  conveyed  many  holy  inspirations  to  the  heart  of  St' 
J^«eph.  They  persuaded  him  anew  of  the  sanctity  and  perfection 
oi  his  spouse-that  God  was  incomprehensible  in  His  works,  and 
impenetrable  in  His  judgments,  and  that  He  was  most  faithful  to 
those  who  trust  in  Him. 

The  agitated  spirit  of  St.  Joseph  was  somewhat  soothed  by  these 
inspirations,  although  he  knew  not  from  whence  they  came  nor  by 
what  order  he  received  them.  Yet  as  the  cause  of  his  grief  re- 
mamed,  he  always  sank  again  into  sadness,  and  returned  to  his  first 
resolutum  to  deseit  his  spouse.  Then  our  blessed  Lady  addressed 
herselt  d.rectly  to  her  Son  whom  she  bore  in  her  virginal  bosom. 

It  would  not  be  becoming,"  said  she,  "  that  thy  servant  should  be 
u.thout  a  husband  who  assists  and  shelters  her  from  calumnies-  do 
Ju.t  permit  him  to  e.xecute  his  design  of  abandoning  me."  The 
Most  H,gh  replied:  "I  will  speedily  console  my  servant  Joseph 
and  after  1  shall  have  declared  to  him,  through  my  angel,  the 
...ystery  ot  wh.ch  he  is  ignorant,  you  may  speak  with  him  concern- 
ing It.  I  wdl  fill  him  with  my  spirit,  and  enable  him  to  accomplish 
all  that  he  should  do  in  these  mysteries.  He  shall  aid  and  assist 
you  under  all  circumstances." 

The  august  Mary  comprehended  how  important  it  was  that  St. 


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[chap.  IV. 


Ji)sej)h  should  have  to  endui'e  this  affliction,  Ly  which  his  spirit 
was  exercised  and  pi-epared  for  the  great  charge  that  was  to  be 
confided  to  him.  He  had  now  passed  two  months  of  suffering,  and, 
oveicome  1>y  his  apprehensions,  he  exclaimed  :  " I  find  no  i-emedy 
for  my  grief  but  absence.  I  acknowledge  that  my  spouse  is  per- 
fect, but  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to  penetrate  the  mystery  of  her 
condition,  and  I  will  not  insult  her  virtue  by  subjecting  her  to  the 
penalties  of  the  law.  I  will  depart  forthwith."  The  saint  resolved 
to  set  out  during  the  night.  He  therefore  prepared  a  small  packet 
of  clothing.  Having  received  a  trifling  sum  of  money  which  was 
due  to  him  for  work,  he  determined  to  leave  the  house  after  mid- 
night. But  as  he  was  accustomed  to  meditate,  he  reflected  on  the 
importance  of  the  undertaking.  "  Great  God,  of  our  fathers  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob,"  he  exclaimed,  "the  sorrow  which  breaks 
my  heart  is  not  hidden  from  Thy  divine  clemency.  Thou  knowest, 
besides,  O  Lord  (though  in  other  things  I  am  not  free  from  sin), 
my  innocence  touching  the  subject  of  my  grief  I  choose  the  lesser 
evil  in  quitting  my  s[)ouse,  and  go  to  end  my  days  in  some  desert, 
there  to  abandon  myself  entirely  to  the  care  of  Thy  providence. 
Forsake  me  not,  foi*  I  desire  only  what  is  for  Thy  glory." 

St.  Josej)h  prostrated  himself,  and  made  a  vow  to  offer  in  the 
Temple  of  Jerusalem  a  part  of  the  small  sum  which  he  had  i-eserved 
for  his  journey,  praying  the  Lord  to  defend  his  spouse  from  cal- 
umny, and  preserve  her  from  all  evil.  Such  was  the  great  recti- 
tude of  this  man  of  God,  and  such  the  esteem  M'hich  he  preserved 
for  our  blessed  Lady.  After  this  ]>rayer,  he  took  a  little  repose, 
intending  to  depart  without  seeing  lier.  Our  blessed  Lady,  from 
her  oratory,  observed  all  that  St.  Joseph  did,  or  proposed  to  do ; 
for  the  Most  High  revealed  it  to  her. 

The  divine  Majesty  permitted  that  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  her 
holy  spouse  should  endure  these  interior  sufferings,  in  order  that, 
])esides  the  meiits  which  so  long  a  martyrdom  would  procure  for 
them,  the  succor  of  the  divine  consolations  should  be  to  them  more 
admirable  and  more  i-emarkable.  'J'he  august  Mary  practised  many 
virtues  during  this  period,  wheieby  she  teaches  us  to  hope  for  re- 
lief from  the  INIost  High  in  the  greatest  afflictions.  And  what  an 
exanijile  is  not  that  of  St.  Joseph !      No  one  had  ever  stronger 


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CHAP.  IV.] 


LIPB   OP  ST.  JOSEPH. 


31 


grounds  of  suspicion,  nor  more  of  discretion  to  control  liis  iudirment 
than  he.  ° 

The  passion  of  jeahnisy  produces  sharp  wounds  in  him  wlio  is 
attacked  l)y  it,  and  no  one  ever  felt  its  effects  so  sensibly  as  St 
Joseph,  though,  in  fact,  there  was  no  foundation  for  it,  if  he  had 
1  »ut  known  the  truth.  He  Avas  endowed  with  a  singular  intelligence 
to  penetrate  the  sanctity  and  the  lovely  character  of  his  sp^ouse 
But  this,  m  augmenting  his  esteem  for  her  whom  he  was  about  to 
o.e,  augmented  his  sorrow  to  find  himself  necessitated  to  abandon 
her. 

_  St.  Joseph  was  not  subject  to  the  disordei-s  of  common  jealousy 
in  which  the  passions  of  concupiscence  are  engaged,  which  neither 
reason  nor  prudence  can  vanquish.  The  jealousy  of  the  saint  arose 
o.dy  from  the  depth  of  his  love  and  a  conditional  suspicion,  viz  • 
whether  his  chaste  spouse  reciprocated  his  affection ;  for  a  pledge 
so  dear  a^  the  affection  of  a  wife  must  not  be  shared  by  any  other 
When  love  is  so  well  founded,  the  chains  that  cement  it  are  very 
strong,  and  the  more  so  because  there  are  fewer  imperfections  to 
weaken  them.  There  was  nothing  in  our  sweet  Lady  which  could 
di.ninish  the  love  of  her  spouse.  On  the  contrary,  all  that  she  had 
received  from  grace  and  from  nature  gave  him  new  subjects  every 
day  to  strengthen  his  affection. 

After  the  saint  had  offered  the  prayer,  of  which  we  have  already 
made  mention,  he  fell  asleep  in  this  sadness,  which  had  sunk  into 
.Injection.  He  was  sure  that  he  should  awake  in  time  to  depart  Pt 
midnight,  without  being  seen,  as  he  thought,  l>y  his  spouse.  Our 
La.ly,  on  her  part,  awaited  the  remedy,  and  earnestly  sought  it  by 
her  humble  prayers.  She  was  consoled  by  an  assurance  that  the 
pains  of  her  spouse  had  now  reached  their  highest  degree— the 
hour  of  mercy  and  consolation  for  that  sorrowing  heart  amid  not 
I.-ng  tarry,  and  her  desires  would  soon  be  accomplished.  And  now 
the  Lord  sent  the  archangel  Gabriel,  to  disclose,  by  a  divine  reve- 
lation to  St.  Joseph,  while  he  slept,  the  mystery  which  was  to  be 
accomplished  in  his  sponse.  The  archangel  acquitted  himself  of 
tins  embassy,  appeared  in  a  dream,  as  related  by  St.  Matthew,  and 
declared  to  him,  in  the  tei-ms  quoted  by  that  evangelist,  the  whole 
mystery  of  the  incarnation  and  redemption. 


"c 


'V 


1!^ 

i  i; 


LIFE   or   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[OHAP.  IT. 


^Mr 


m 


m 


M 


m\ 


■r.r.i 


There  are  various  reasons  why  the  archangel  spoke  to  St.  Joseph 
hi  a  dream,  and  not  in  his  waking  Ijoui-s,  although  the  mystery  had 
been  manifested  to  othei-s  when  awake.  In  the  fii-st  place,  St. 
Joseph  was  so  prudent  and  so  filled  with  esteem  for  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  that  stronger  proofs  w(M'e  unnecessary  to  convince  him  of 
the  dignity  of  Mary,  and  of  the  mystery  of  the  incarnation  ;  for  the 
divine  inspiration  penetrates  easily  into  well-disposed  hearts.  In 
the  second  place,  his  trouble  had  begun  with  his  senses,  and  it  was 
but  just  that  they  should  be  mortified  and  deprived  of  the  angelic 
vision,  since  they  had  permitted  the  entrance  of  illusions  and  sus- 
picions ;  therefore  the  truth  ought  not  to  enter  by  their  means. 
The  third  reason  is,  that  although  St.  Joseph  committed  no  sin  in 
these  circumstances,  yet  his  senses  had  undoubtedly  contracted  a 
species  of  stain,  and  it  was  proper  that  the  angel  should  fulfil 
his  embassy  at  a  time  when  these  senses,  which  had  been  scandal- 
ized, Avere  interdicted  by  the  suspension  of  their  operations.  Be- 
sides these,  there  was  the  reason  which  should  overrule  all  othere, 
that  such  was  the  will  of  the  Lord,  who  is  just  and  holy,  and  per- 
fect in  all  His  works. 

St.  Joseph  saw  not  the  angel  through  any  image  or  form — he 
heard  only  the  internal  voice,  and  undei-stood  the  mystery.  He 
heard  what  St.  Gabriel  said,  "  that  he  should  not  fear  to  remain 
with  Mary  his  wife,  because  her  condition  was  the  work  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  That  she  should  bring  forth  a  son,  whom  he  should 
call  Jesus;  that  lie  should  deliver  His  people  from  their  sins;  and 
that  in  this  mystery  would  be  accomplished  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah 
— 'A  Virgin  shall  conceive  and  bring  forth  a  son,  who  sliall  be 
called  Emmanuel,  which  means,  God  with  us.' "  We  perceive  from 
the  woi'ds  of  the  celestial  ambassador,  that  the  saint  had  separattnl 
from  the  pure  Mary  in  intention,  since  he  was  commanded  to  receive 
her  without  fear. 

St.  Joseph  awoke,  informed  of  the  mystery  which  had  been  re- 
vealed to  him,  and  instructed  that  his  spouse  was  the  Mother  of 
God.  He  found  himself  divided  between  the  joy  of  his  happiness, 
and  his  unhoped-for  dignity,  and  sorrow  for  what  he  had  been 
about  to  do.  He  pi-ostrated  himself  instantly  on  the  ground,  and 
made,  with  humble  fear  and  iuconcoivable  contentment,  heroic  acta 


I 


>'?!? 


siiJsi 


&^t 


i 


OHAl*.  IV.] 

of  humility  and 


LIFE   OF  BT.  JOSKPn. 


33 


im 


I  grntitiule.     He  gave  thanks  to  God  for  the 
which  had  been  disdoaed  to  him,  and  for  having  made  ......  .... 

Hpouse  of  her  whom  lie  had  chosen  to  be  His  mother-him  -vlio 
<l.d  not  deserve  to  be  her  servant.  The  doubts  and  uncertainty 
whicli  St.  Joseph  had  suffered,  hiid  in  liim  the  foun.hitions  of  the 
most  profound  humility,  necessary  for  him  to  whom  was  confide.l 
the  dispensation  of  the  most  lu.ly  counsels  of  the  Lord  The 
remembrance  of  what  had  passed  served  as  a  lesson  for  his  future 
life. 

Having  rendered  thanks  to  the  divine  Majesty,  the  holy  man 
began  to  reproach  himself.     "O  my  divine  spouse,"  said  he,  "most 
sweet  dove,  chosen  by  the  Most  High  to  be  His  own  mother,  how 
bJith  thy  unworthy  servant  dared  to  call  in  question  thy  fidelity » 
How  could  he,  who  is  only  dust  and  ashes,  suffer  her  who  is  Queen 
ot  heaven  to  serve  him?     Why  have  I  not  kissed  the  earth  thy 
steps  have  trod,  and  served  thee  kneeling?     How  shall  I  dare  to 
raise  my  eyes  in  thy  presence,  or  open  my  lips  to  speak  with  thee? 
Lord,  give  me  grace,  grant  me  strength  to  pray  for  pardon!     In- 
spire her  to  show  me  mercy,  so  that  she  may  not  reject  her  unworthy 
s<"rvant  as  he  deserves.     Ala.s!  how  clearly  she  must  have  pene- 
trated all  my  thoughts:  how  can  I  have  the  boldness  to  appear  in 
her  presence?     I  see  now  the  grossness  of  my  conduct,  and  mv 
stnpul  mistake;  and  if  Thy  justice  for  my  chastisement  had  per- 
mitted me  to  execute  my  imprudent  intention,  what  wretchedness 
w,.uld   now  be  mine!      Thanks  to  Thee,  my  God,  throu-d.out 
eternity,  for  so  great  a  blessing.     I  will  present  myself  to  my°prin- 
cess,  my  opouse,  confiding  in  the  sweetness  of  her  clemency  and 
prostrate  at  her  feet,  I  will  beseech  her  pardon,  so  that  for  her 
sake.  Lord,  Thou  wilt  regard  me  with  pity,  and  pardon  my  fault." 
St.  Josej.h  went  forth  from  his  humble  chamber  very  unlike  what 
he  was  before  his  recent  slr.raber.     Now  he  was  happy:  v^-t  he 
dared  not  disturb  our  bless'.d  Lady,  who  was  still  employed'in  the 
sweets   of  her   contemplation.       While    awaiting   the   favorable 
moment,  the  man  of  God,  with  tearful  eyes,  unbound  the  little 
•  packet  that  he  had  prei)ared— but  with  sentiments  far  different 
from  thos(^  which  had  previously  occupied  him.     Having  learned 
the  honor  due  to  our  blessed  Lady,  our  suiut  Avatered  the  house 


fr^t, 


^i^^ 


S 


fe'fi'ii^ 


I 


l^i 


■^'.'1 


'\ 


[^ 


Wr>. 


V 


•r^'L 


Y 


i^-Eri,; 


« 


■'c^:: 


mi 


with  liifl  tears;  he  swept  it  and  ))i'e]mro(l  other  little  household 
work,  which,  while  icfiiornnt  of  her  dii^iiity,  he  had  intinsted  to  the 
care  of  his  hlessed  spouse. 

lie  now  resolved  to  change  his  deportment  towards  her,  by  ap- 
propriating to  hiins(flf  tin;  oflicc  of  servant,  reserving  that  of  mis- 
tress for  hei-  majesty.  Further  on  we  shall  i-elate  the  loving  dis- 
putes which  he  had  with  our  queen  to  decide  which  of  tlie  two 
should  serve  and  take  the  hunihhu'  j)lnoe.  At  the  projier  time  the 
saint  presented  himself  at  the  chamber  of  our  blessed  Lady,  who 
awaited  his  coming  with  the  sweetness  and  complacency  which  we 
shall  recount  in  the  following  chapter.  Let  us  take  an  example 
from  St.  Joseph,  who  believed,  without  delay  and  without  doubt- 
ing, that  which  the  angel  revealed  to  him,  in  such  wise  that  he 
mei'ited  to  be  elevated  to  a  great  recompense,  and  to  a  sublime 
dignity.  And  if  he  abased  himself  with  so  much  humility,  not 
having  committed  any  sin  in  what  he  did,  but  only  in  having  been 
greatly  troubled  under  circumstances  which  seemed  to  give  so  much 
occasion  for  anxiety,  consider  how  much  we  ought  to  humiliate 
oui-selves — we,  who  aie  nothing  but  miserable  worms  of  the  dust 
— bv  weeping  over  our  negligence  and  our  sins,  so  that  the  Most 
High  may  regard  us  as  father  and  spouse. 


y 


m^^ 


I 


w 


y.^- 


l&I 


i 


v? 


c 


fe 


} 


ciiArnai  v. 

SKBVE   IIEB   IN   A IX   T.UNIIS   WITH   PHOFOUNI)    KKSPKCr. 

St.  Joskpu   after  tl.e  discovery  „f  l.i.  error,  waited  until  our 

.le.s.od  Lady  sl.ould  cou.e  forth  fro.n  her  retreat.     As  soon  as  he 

though    ,t  wan  t.n,e,  he  opened  the  door  of  tlie  litth,  chamber  oc 

•  t  her  feet,  he  exclauned,  with  humility  and  profound  veneration: 
My  spouse    Mother  of  the  Eternal  Word,  behold  your  servant 
p.ostrate  be  ore  you.     By  the  .same  Lord  whon.  you  bear  in  your 
most  chaste  bosom,  I  pray  you  to  pardon  n>y  presun^ption.     Sure 
I  an.  that  none  of  my  thoughts  can  be  hi.lden  fron.  your  wisdo.n, 
"<>••   .on.  the  d.vme  light  which  you  have  received.     Great  was  m; 
l.l.ndness  to  thmk  of  deserting  you ;  but  you  know  that  I  did  it  in 
Ignorance,  because  neither  the  secret  of  th«  great  King  had  been 
revealed  to  me,  nor  the  greatness  of  your  dignity.     For-et  I  en- 
treat you,  the  ,nany  deficiencies  of  a  vile  creature  who  offers  his 
lu-art  and  Ins  life  to  your  service ;  I  will  not  rise  f.oni  your  feet  until 
you  have  par.loned  my  folly-until  I  shall  have  received  your  for- 
giveness  ajid  your  benediction." 

The  august  Mary  listened  with  mingled  feelings  to  the  humble 

words  of  her  spouse.     She  rejoiced  in  the  Lord  to  learn  that  St 

Joseph  was  informed  of  the  mysteries  of  the  incarnation,  an.l  that 

he  revered  them  with  such  profound  faith  and  humilitv.     But  she 

was  troubled  by  the  resolution  he  had  taken  to  change 'his  conduct 

towards  her,  and  with  the  respect  and  submission  with  which  he 

addressed  her.     Knowing  how  nuich  she  (,ught  to  esteem  humility 

«he  was  disturbed  by  the  apprehension  that  St.  Joseph,  recognizing 

in  her  the  mother  of  the  Lonl,  would  deport  himself  in  all  thin c^ 

as  her  mfV-nor.     Insisting  that  he  should  rise,  she  prostrated  he,-sdf 

at  his  feet,  although  he  ma.le  (-very  edbrt  to  hinder  this,  but  it  was 

not  possible  ;  for  in  humility  she  was  inviuciW^.     Then  she  said  to 

the  saint:  "It  is  L  mv  snouse.  who  oughf  ro  beseech  your  pardon 


Cr 


hv« 


f^j 


'1^ 


m^ 


2^*f??^«i 


mMm 


I 


-^kl 


LIFE   OF  HT.  JOSKl'It. 


[OHAI', 


V. 


tho  puin  and  hoitow  that  you  have  hud  to  ciiduro  on  my  account, 
'ore  I  beg  y(»u  will  forgot  tluMu." 

Ideascd  Laily,  for  the  oonsoliition  of  her  hiisband,  continued  : 

uld  not  reveal  to  you  the  hidden  mystery  which  the  Most 

had  inclosed  within  me,  because  it  was  my  dv^y  to  await 

xpression  of  tlie  will  of  the  Lord,     Thus  my  sdence  should 

»e  considered  as  arising  from  any  want  of  esteem  for  you,  for 

things  I  regard  you  us  my  master  and  my  husband.     I  am, 

always  shall  b(*,  your  faithful  servant ;  but  do  not  make  any 

^e  in  the  demeanor  which  you  have  always  preserved  towards 

The  Lord  has  not  elevated  mo  to  the  dignity  of  being  His 

own  mother  to  be  served,  but  to  be  the  servant  of  all,  and  of  you 

especially.     This  is  my  oflSce :  it  is  but  just  that  you  should  leave 

it  to  me,  since  the  Most  High  has  so  ordained  in  giving  me  your 

l)rotection." 

St.  Joseph,  by  these  rejisona  and  many  othei-s,  sweetly  effica- 
cious, found  his  spirit  enlightened  in  a  singular  manner.  He 
i-eceived,  tlirough  this  purest  of  creatures,  extraordinary  divine 
influences,  and,  entirely  renewed  in  heart,  he  replied:  "You  are 
blessed  among  women;  you  are  blessed  among  all  nations.  May 
the  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth  be  glorified  by  eternal  praises,  for 
that  He  has  chosen  you  for  His  dwelling.  In  you  alo"e  He  Iwls 
accom])lished  the  promises  that  He  made  to  our  fathers  and  to  the 
proi)hets.  Let  all  generations  bless  Him  that  He  has  not  exalted 
Himself  in  any  creature  as  in  you,  and  that  He  has  chosen  me,  the 
vilest  of  men,  to  be  your  servant."  The  saint  was  enlightened  by 
the  divine  Spirit  after  the  manner  of  St.  Elizabeth ;  but  the  light 
and  knowledge  which  St.  Joseph  received  were,  in  a  certain  sense, 
more  admirable,  because  of  his  dignity  and  ministry. 

The  august  Mary  replied  by  the  Magnificat  and  other  new  can- 

^'/'i    tides;  and  while  chanting  them,  inflamed  by  the  divine  fire,  she 

i    (    was  rapt  in  a  sublime  ecstasy,  and,  lifted  up  from  the  earth  in  a 

.♦i;    globe  of  brilliant  light  which  encii-cled  her,  she  was  transformed  as 

in  a  glory.     St.  Joseph  was  filled  with  admiration  and  joy  incon- 

ceival)le  at  this  view  of  his  holy  spouse,  for  he  had  never  yet  seen 

her  surrounded  with  such  gU>ry  and  excellence.     She  appeared  to 

him  /piite  transparent,  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  discovered  the 


6 


li 


M 


OIIAP.  v.] 


LIFE  OP  ST.  JOSKPII. 


iiitcgrity  nnd  virgimil  pmity  of  our  queen  and  tho  mystery  of  h.-r 
dignity.  H«  saw,  rIho,  and  recognized  in  the  cliaHte  bosom  of  Mary 
-^  tl.e  l..-]y  humanity  of  the  Infant  (}od  and  the  union  of  the  two 
\f  natures  in  the  person  of  the  Word.  lie  ndontd  the  Infant  (Jod 
witii  a  profound  humility,  iic'kiiowle(Ig..(l  his  true  Redeemer,  and 
offered  himself  to  His  seivitM!  with  fervent  acts  of  divine  love.' 

The  I^rd  regarded  him  with  great  favor,  and  distinguished  him 
.'•rnong  all  men,  for  lie  accepted  him  as  His  reputed  father,  and 
gave  him  the  title.  Ami  to  render  him  conformable  to  this  new 
and  h.Mioi-able  name,  lie  imparted  to  him  all  the  knowledge  and 
olivine  gifts  to  which  Christian  jairity  can  or  ought  to  luspire. 

If  it  were  a  proof  of  the  magnanimity  of  the  glorious  St.  Joseph 

that  he  did  not  die  of  jealousy,  it  is  also  a  subject  of  mhniration 

that  he  was  not  overwhelmed  by  the  joy  which  "he  felt  on  this  oc 

casion.     In  the  first  case  his  holiness  appears,  but  in  the  second  ho 

received  such  augmentations  of  graces  and  gifts  from  the  Lord, 

that,  if  His  divine  Majesty  had  not  dilated  his  heart,  he  could  not 

have  been  able  tu  receiver  them.     He  was  entirely  renewed  and  en- 

lightemtd  so  as  to  converse  worthily  with  her  who  was  the  MoLher 

of  God,  and,  conjointly  with  In-r,  to  dispense  all  that  concerned  the 

incarnation  and  the  charge  of  the  Word  made  mmi.     It  was  ak. 

^      manifested  to  him,  in  order  that  he  should  recognize  the  obligation 

L     imposed  on  him  to  serve  his  holy  spouse,  that  all  the  gifts  he  had 

leceived  fiom  the  Most  High  weie  received  through  her  and  for 

her.     He  knew  that  the  gifts  he  had  received  before  his  espousals 

WiM-e  bestowed  because  the  Lord  had  chosen  him  foi-  this  office, 

and  that  those  which  he  now  received  were  because  she  had  merited 

them  for  him.     And  as  our  blessed  Lady  had  been  the  instrument 

by  which  the  Lord  had  wi-ought  the  sauctification  of  John  the 

Baptist,  ami  his  mother,  St.  Elizabeth,  she  w.-us  the  organ,  also,  by 

whom  St.  Joseph  received  the  plenitude  of  grace.       This  most 

ha[)py  spouse  knew  all  this,  and  he  responded  to  it  like  a  faithful 

and  grat(!ful  servant. 

ists  make  no  mention  of  thes 


it»cf 


•Sip' 


to 


E 


i.  i 


.i  I. 
I  "I 


Y 


m 


La 


'-/ 


M 


were  reserved,  by  the  inipenetr.al)le  judgments  of  Providence,  for 
times  which  the  divine  wisdom  judged  more  suitable,*  or  when 
the  Church  sliould  have  need  of  the  iutei'cession  and  support  of  ouP 
lioly  queen.  The  faithful  St.  Joseph,  after  having  been  made 
aware  of  the  dignity  of  his  spouse,  and  the  mystery  of  the  incarna- 
tion, conceived  so  lofty  an  esteem  for  her,  that,  although  he  had 
been  always  pure  and  perfect  in  his  life,  he  now  became  as  a  new 
man.  lie  resolved  henceforth  to  change  his  conduct,  and  to  re- 
double his  veneration  towards  our  blessed  Lady.  This  was  in  con- 
formity with  the  wisdom  of  the  saint,  and  due  to  the  excellence  of 
his  spouse,  for  he  was  servant,  and  she  mistress  of  the  universe. 
St.  Joseph  knew  all  this  by  divine  illumination.  Now,  to  satisfy 
the  desire  he  had  to  honor  her  in  whom  he  recognized  the  Mother 
of  God,  when  he  spoke  to  her,  or  passed  before  her,  if  alone  to- 
gether, he  bent  the  knee.  He  would  not  sufl'er  her  to  wait  on  him, 
nor  that  she  should  occupy  herself  in  other  humble  offices,  such  as 
sweeping  the  house,  cleansing  the  vessels,  and  many  other  things 
which  he  thought  derogatory  from  the  dignity  of  our  queen. 

But  our  saintly  Lady,  who  AViis  the  humblest  of  the  humble,  and 
whose  humility  was  not  to  be  overcome,  prayed  St.  Joseph  not  to 
pay  her  such  honors  as  to  bow  the  knee  to  her.  This  veneration, 
she  said,  was  doubtless  due  to  the  Lord,  whom  she  bore  in  her 
l)osom;  but  while  He  remained  there,  the  person  of  Christ  could 
not  be  distinguished  from  her  own.  The  saint,  yielding  to  her 
humble  desires,  rendered  this  worship  to  the  Lord,  who  was  in  the 
bosom  of  Mai-y,  and  to  her  as  His  mother,  only  when  unperceived 
by  her. 

They  had  also  humble  disputes  respecting  their  servile  employ- 
ments. St.  Joseph  could  not  consent  to  allow  our  amiable  mistress 
to  i)erforni  them,  and  strove  to  prevent  it.  On  her  part,  she  did 
what  she  could,  but  while  she  was  retired  in  her  oratory  the  saint 
found  time  to  do  many  tilings,  and  thus  our  sweet  Lady  was  frus- 
trated in  her  desices  to  be  the  servant.  At  these  times  she  ad- 
dressed her  meek  com[)laints  to  the  Lord,  and  prayed  Him  to  oblige 
her  spouse  not  to  hinder  her  in  the  ex(ircise  of  humility. 

*  Jesus  said,  "  I  have  yet  many  things  to  say  to  you  :  but  you  cannot  hear  thcin 
DOW." — St.  John,  xvi.  12. 


i-^'-" 


h 


C/>\ 


LIFE  OP  ST.  JOSEPH 


39 


This  virtue  ia  so  agreeable  at  the  tribunal  of  God,  that  we  ask 
for  no  common  grace  when  we  pray  for  it;  for  humility  imparts  a 
certain  gi-eatness  to  all  things,  and  inclines  God  to  clemency.  The 
diviiu;  Majesty  hearkened  to  the  request  of  our  blessed  Lady,  and 
Iiis  guardian  an^el  said,  interiorly,  to  the  blessed  St.  Joseph,  "Do 
not  fiusti'ate  the  humble  desires  of  her  who  is  above  all  creatures 
in  heaven  oi-  on  earth.  Permit  her  to  serve  yon  in  external  things, 
and  preserve  for  her  in  your  interior  the  greatest  reverence.  Ren- 
der to  the  Word  made  man,  in  all  times  and  in  all  places,  the 
homage  that  is  due  to  Him.  You  can,  meanwhile,  assist  His  mother, 
and  honor  always  the  Lord  of  the  universe  who  is  within  her." 

Having  received  these  orders  from  the  Most  High,  St.  Joseph 
no  longer  refused  her  humble  exercises  to  our  sweet  Lady.  Thus 
both  offered  to  God  the  sacrifice  of  their  will.  The  most  pure 
Mary,  in  practising  her  profound  humility,  and  faithful  obedience 
to  her  spouse ;  and  St.  Joseph,  by  obedience  to  the  Most  High, 
with  a  holy  confusion  to  see  himself  served  by  her  whom 
he  recognized  as  mistress  of  the  universe  and  mother  of  the 
Creator. 

Thus  our  saint  was  compensated  for  the  humility  which  he  could 
not  exercise ;  for  to  see  himself  served  as  he  was,  humiliated  him 
far  more,  and  obliged  him  to  abase  himself  still  more  profoundly 
in  contempt  of  himself.  In  these  dispositions  St.  Joseph  meditated 
upon  the  Lord,  whom  the  august  Mary  bore  in  her  chaste  bosom, 
adoring  and  rendering  to  Him  honor  and  glory.  Then,  in  recom- 
pense for  his  sanctity  and  his  respect,  mingled  with  fear,  the  Infant 
God,  made  man,  sometimes  manifested  Himself  in  an  admirable 
manner.  He  saw  Him  in  the  bosom  of  His  most  pure  mother,  as 
through  a  luminous  crystal.  Afterwards,  our  incomparable  Lady 
conversed  more  familiarly  with  her  blessed  spouse  upon  the  mys- 
t(  iies  of  the  incarnation,  for  she  knew  that  he  was  now  informed 
of  the  secrets  of  the  hypostatic  union  of  the  two  natures,  divine 
and  human,  within  lier  virginal  bosom. 

No  tongne  can  relate  the  celestial  discourses  that  were  held  be- 
tween the  Blessed  Virgin  and  St.  Joseph.  And  who  can  describe 
tlie  effects  produced  on  the  gentle  and  pious  heart  of  this  holy 
man,  on  finding  himself  the  spouse  of  lier  who  was  the  veritable 


rm^^ 


III 


)^^, 


Ml 


WSi 


\k. 


ry 

m 

'  ^M 

rH 

rfl 

i 

'ij^^^B 

1 

'^^1 

i  ■ 

f 

■ 

I  if 


1,;, ' 


I    . 


■  ■*^*«i6««i«<*l.<aM&(«S,.  %»*;«*,, 


40 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


mother  of  his  Creatoi",  and  to  see  her  performing  for  him  the  duties 
of  a  simple  servant  1 

If  the  Almighty  enriched  the  house  and  the  pei-son  of  Obed- 
Edom  with  such  plenteous  benedictions  for  having  received  the 
ark  of  the  Old  Testament,  what  benedictions  would  He  not  bestow 
upon  St.  Joseph,  to  whom  He  had  confided  the  true  Ark,  and  the 
Legislator  Himself  who  was  inclosed  within  it? 

The  happiness  and  the  fidelity  of  this  saint  were  incomparable, 
not  only  because  the  living  Ark  of  the  New  Testament  abode  in 
his  house,  but  because  he  guarded  it  like  a  faithful  and  prudent 
servant.  The  Lord  placed  him  over  His  family,  also,  that  he  should 
provide  for  it  according  to  its  necessities  as  a  faithful  administra- 
tor. Let  all  nations  acknowledge  him,  bless  him,  and  publish  his 
praises,  since  the  Most  High  has  never  done  for  any  other  what 
He  has  done  for  this  incomparable  saint.  In  view  of  mysteries  so 
august,  I  will  glorify  this  adorable  Lord,  and  confess  Him  as  holy, 
just,  merciful,  wise,  and  admirable  in  all  liis  wondrous  works. 


m  X'  Pi. 


t 


n 


mm 


tAs 


«r^ 


i 


CHAP.  VI.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


41  ItTACvra 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MODE   OP  UFE  OP  THE  AUGUST  MART  AND  ST.  JCSEPH.-CONVEUSATIONS   BiCTWEES 
TIIEM,  AND  OTHER  REMARKABLE  CIRCUMSTANCES. 

The  humble  house  of  Joseph,  which  our  saints  made  their  dwell- 
ing-place,  consisted  of  three  chambers  only.  St.  Joseph  slept  in 
one  of  these,  and  used  another  as  a  workshop,  where  the  tools 
were  deposited  which  served  for  use  in  his  trade  of  carpenter. 
The  third,  which  contained  a  small  bed,  the  work  of  our  saint,  was 
appropriated  to  the  Queen  of  heaven,  who  slept  there,  and  made 
It  her  ordinary  abode.  This  order  was  established  from  the  date 
of  their  marriage. 

Before  he  was  informed  of  her  dignity,  the  saintly  husband  rare- 
ly, except  when  some  affair  obliged  him  to  ask  her  advice,  visited 
his  wife,  because  he  was  engaged  with  his  work,  and  she  remained 
in  her  retreat.     But  after  his  happiness  was  made  known  to  him, 
the  holy  man  became  more  assiduous,  and  went  very  often  to  seek 
our  blessed  Lady,  to  renew  the  offer  of  his  services.     Yet  he  never 
approached  her  but  with  great  humility  and  reverent  respect.     Be- 
fore speaking  to  her  he  was  careful  to  observe  how  she  was  occu- 
pied.   Thus,  many  times  he  saw  her  rapt  in  ecstasy,  and  surround- 
ed by  a  radiant  light;  at  othei-s,  he  found  her  discoui-sing  wl^' 
angels.     Often  she  was  prostrate,  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and  speak- 
ing with  the  Lord.     In  these  circumstances  our  saint  contented 
himself  with  the  liberty  of  gazing  upon  her  with  the  most  profound 
reverence.     It  was  granted  to  his  merits  to  hear  the  harmony  of 
the  angelic  chants,  and  to  inhale  a  delicious  fragrance  that  strength- 
ened him  and  filled  his  whole  being  with  spiritual  joy  and  consola- 
tion. 

The  holy  spouses  were  alone  in  their  house,  for  they  kept  no 
servant— not  only  because  of  their  great  humility,  but  also  that 
they  found  it  most  convenient  to  have  no  witnesses  of  the  i)r()digies 
that  were  of  such  frequent  occurrence  with  them. 

Our  Lady  never  left  the  house,  unless  obliged  by  some  pressing 


Y 


'A 


J 


m 


Li 


*'■' 


'  ^^-4  'k^iiSi^s^mMtitm^i, 


-'■'0i^-AMt>%miikM^^.^ ,. 


1>^ 


I 


.jf^ 


Y 


& 


'm 


'*^/ 


d 


42 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


[CIIAP.  Vl. 


circumstance;  hut  a  woman,  their  neighbor  and  relative,  she  who 
had  served  St.  Joseph  dui-inpr  the  sojourn  of  the  Bh^s^ed  Virgin  at 
the  house  of  Zachariah,  took  charge  of  their  external  affairs.  She 
was  abundantly  recompensed  for  these  services,  not  only  in  her 
own  advancement  in  peifection,  but  her  family  also  felt  the  benefi- 
cent effects  of  the  protection  of  the  holy  fanaly.  The  august  Mary 
many  times  healed  their  maladies,  and  filled  them  with  heavenly 
benedictions. 

Their  nourishment  was  very  frugal;  but  they  pai-took  of  it  every 
day,  and  together.  St.  Joseph  sometimes  ate  flesh  meat,  but  the 
holy  Virgin  never,  although  she  prepared  it  for  her  spouse.  Their 
ordinary  diet  consisted  of  fruits,  fish,  bread,  and  cooked  vegetables. 
But  this  was  always  taken  with  great  moderation,  and  only  so  much 
as  was  needful,  but  the  quality  varied  according  to  circumstances. 

St,  Joseph  never  saw  his  holy  spouse  asleep.  He  did  no  know, 
from  his  own  experience,  whether  she  slept  at  all.  Her  place  of 
rest  was  the  little  bed  made  by  the  saint.  It  had  two  coverings, 
between  which  she  w  s  accustomed  to  place  hereelf  to  take  a  brief 
and  light  repose.  The  under-garment  of  the  august  Mary  was  a 
tunic  or  chemise,  but  little  softer  than  woollen  stuff.  She  never  left 
it  off,  except  when  it  was  worn,  nor  soiled  it,  and  no  one  in  the 
world  saw  it,  not  even  St.  Joseph.  In  all  her  works,  and  in  what- 
ever she  did  for  St.  Joseph,  the  greatest  clean   iiess  was  observed. 

Before  St.  Joseph  was  informed  of  the  mystery  of  the  incarna- 
tion, our  blessed  Lady,  at  certain  times  when  he  was  not  occupied, 
used  to  read  to  him  from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  particularly  from 
David  and  the  Prophets.  She  explained  them  like  an  experienced 
instructress,  and  her  holy  spouse  questioned  her  on  many  points, 
her  replies  to  which  gave  him  such  cause  for  admiration,  that  both 
united  in  praising  and  blessing  the  Lord.  But  after  the  saint  had 
discovered  the  grand  secret,  our  Lady  addressed  him  as  the  chosen 
of  God,  to  be  the  coadjutor  of  the  works  and  mysteries  of  the  Re- 
demption. They  discou^-sed  then  openly  together,  and  with  a  more 
clear  undei-stauding,  of  the  prophecies  which  referred  to  the  con- 
ception of  the  Word  by  a  Virgin  Mother,  His  birth,  and  His  most 
holy  life. 

Our  august  Lady  explained  all ;  and  then  they  spoke  of  what 


i?:r^^ 


OIIAP.  VI.] 


LIFE   OP  ST.  JOSEPH. 


43 


they  should  do  when  the  day,  so  much  desired,  should  come— when 
the  Child  should  be  born,  when  He  should  be  in  her  arms,  and  she 
should  nourish  Him  from  her  virginal  breast,  and  when,  alone 
among  mortals,  her  holy  spouse  would  be  the  only  one  who  should 
participate  in  this  inconceivable  happiness !  But  she  said  little  of 
the  death  and  the  passion,  for  she  was  unwilling  to  afflict  the  ten- 
der heart  of  her  spouse. 

The  fivithful  and  happy  St.  Joseph  (sras  all  enkindled  by  divine 
love  in  these  gracious  conversations,  and,  shedding  tears  of  joy,  he 
cried  out:.  "Is  it  indeed  possible  that  I  shall  see  my  God  and  Ee- 
deeraer  within  your  chaste  arms?— that  I  shall  adore  Him  there ?- 
that  I  shall  hear  His  sweet  voice?— that  I  shall  touch  Him?— that 
my  eyes  shall  see  His  divine  face?-that  the  sweat  of  my  brow 
sliall  be  employed  in  His  service,  and  for  His  support  ?— that  we 
shall  speiik  and  converse  with  Him?  Whence  comes  to  me  such 
bliss  as  none  could  ever  have  deserved?  Why  have  I  not  rich 
treasures,  that  I  might  lay  them  at  His  feet?" 

Our  august  Lady  replied:  "The  great  God  comes  no.  .ato  the 
world  to  fiuu  riches,  for  He  needs  them  not;  for  them  would  He 
not  descend  from  heaven.  .  ^  comes  on  earth  only  to  repair  the 
disordei-s  of  the  world,  and  ,y  sure  ways  to  conduct  it  to  eternal 
life ;  and  these  ways  are  none  other  than  humility  and  poverty. 
For  this  He  has  chosen  our  poor  habitation.  He  wills  not  that  we 
be  i-ich  in  worldly  goods,  which  are  but  vanity  and  vexation  of 
spii-it." 

The  saint  often  besought  the  holy  Virgin  to  instruct  him  in  the 
character  of  the  virtues,  especially  that  of  the  divine  love,  in  order 
that  he  might  undei-stand  how  to  conduct  himself  in  a  suitable 
nianner  towards  the  God-man,  so  as  not  to  be  rejected  as  an  un- 
profitable  servant.  The  Mistress  of  the  Virtues  condescended  to 
his  request,  and  explained  to  her  spouse  the  properties  of  the  vir- 
tues, and  the  manner  of  practising  them  with  all  possible  perfection. 
Nevertheless  she  deported  hai-self  in  these  instructions  with  such 
gi-eat  discretion,  that  she  appeared  in  no  wise  the  mistress  of  her 
spouse,  for  she  interrogated  the  saint  and  instructed  him  by  her 
questions. 

They  mingled  these  convereations,  or  readings  from  the  Scrip- 


SE 


m 


'4! 


"!«IS, 


'in 


>% 


n^-^^, 


r^'*f 


a  J 


*^'' 


1 


LIFE   OF   ST.   JOSKPII 


[CIIAP.  VI. 


tures,  sometimes  with  manual  labor,  when  the  saint  was  obliged  to 
continue  at  his  work.  Our  most  amiable  Lady  added  to  them  the 
consolations  of  the  celestial  doctrines ;  and  thus  the  happy  husband 
made  greater  advancement  in  virtue  thaa  with  the  work  of  his 
hands.  She  showed  to  him  the  great  fruit  that  may  be  drawn 
from  labor.  Believing  hei'self  unworthy  to  be  maintained  by  her 
spouse,  she  was  humbled,  in  thinking  how  much  she  was  indebted 
to  him.  She  felt  herself  as  much  obliged  as  if  she  had  been  the 
most  useless  of  all  creatures,  p.r  .,  \  '^^r^  auttVle  to  assist  our  saint, 
she  served  him  whenever  it  Wo'  Mc     About  this  time  St.  Jo- 

seph saw,  one  day,  a  great  numb  .  of  birds  co»ne  to  entertain  the 
queen  of  creatures.  They  fluttered  around  her,  as  if  to  form  a 
choir,  and  sang  with  a  delicious  melody.  St.  Joseph  had  not  be- 
fore witnessed  this  marvel,  and,  overflowing  with  joy  and  wonder, 
he  exclaimed :  "  Is  it  possible  that  unreasoning  creatures  acquit 
themselves  of  their  ol>ligations  better  than  I?  It  is  just  that  if 
they  recognize,  serve,  and  honor  you,  so  far  as  they  are  capable, 
that  you  should  permit  me  also,  to  acquit  myself  of  what  is  justly 
your  right."  But  the  most  prudent  Virgin  replied :  "  I  am  but  a 
simjile  creature,  yet  I  ought  to  induce  all  creatures  to  praise  the 
Most  High." 

It  often  happened  that  they  found  themselves  in  want  of  neces- 
saries, for  they  were  very  liberal  to  the  poor,  nor  were  they  care- 
ful, like  worldly  people,  to  provide  for  their  wants  in  advance. 
Now  the  Lord  so  ordered  it,  that  the  faith  and  patience  of  His  holy 
Mother  and  St.  Joseph  should  not  be  idle.  These  privations  were 
an  inexpressible  consolation  to  tho  august  Mary,  not  only  because 
of  her  love  of  poverty,  but  also  oi  her  humility,  through  which  she 
cojisidered  herself  undeserving  of  the  necessary  aliments  of  life. 
She  prayed  the  Most  High  only  to  supply  the  wants  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  All-Powerful  forgot  not  His  poor,  and,  while  giving  them 
occasion  to  augment  their  merits  and  to  exercise  their  virtues.  He 
gave  them  also  food  in  season.  Sometimes  He  inspired  their  neighr 
bors  or  acquaintances  to  sissist  them  by  a  gift.  Oftener  St.  Eliza- 
beth sent  them  succoi-s  from  her  own  house ;  for,  since  the  visit  i)f 
the  Queen  of  heaven,  she  had  i-esolved  to  help  them,  and  our  sweet 
Lady  sent  in  return  some  work  of  her  own  hands.     Our  holy  Mis- 


/l>Y 


® 


m 


h 


mr 


i 


/WW 


tress  sometiraea  exercised  the  power  with  which  she  was  endowed 
over  creatures,  and  the  birds  brought  fruits  or  bread.  Her  happy 
sjjouse  was  frequently  a  witness  of  tliese  events. 

They  wei-e  also  sometimes  assisted,  in  a  wonderful  manner,  by 
the  ministry  of  angels.  But  before  recounting  these,  it  is  well  to 
i-emai'k  that  the  nobleness  of  heart,  the  faith,  and  the  generosity  of 
the  saint  were  so  exalted,  that  his  soul  was  free  from  every  taint  of 
avarice,  or  sordid  care  for  the  future.  And  although  the  holy 
spouses  devoted  themselves  to  labor,  they  never  demanded  the 
price  of  their  work,  nor  would  they  enter  into  bai-gains,  for  they 
did  not  labor  from  motives  of  interest,  but  to  exercise  charity  to- 
wards those  who  had  need  of  it,  leaving  the  acknowledgment  of  it 
to  their  discretion. 

When  any  payment  was  made  to  them,  they  received  it  not  aa 
a. price  or  recompense,  but  as  an  alms.  It  often  happened  that  no 
recompense  was  offered  for  their  work,  and  that  they  found  them- 
selves entirely  destitute  of  food,  and  then  the  Lord  provided  it 
One  day,  when  their  usual  dinner-hour  was  passed,  and  no  moi-se] 
of  food  was  to  be  found  in  the  house,  they  remained  a  long  time  in 
prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  the  divine  Majesty,  for  this  affliction. 
During  this  time  the  holy  angels  prepared  a  repast.  They  ar- 
ranged the  table,  and  placed  thereon  fruits,  bread  of  a  very  delicate 
kind,  fish,  and  a  sort  of  conserve  of  wonderful  sweetness  and  excel- 
lence ;  and  then  some  of  these  blessed  spirits  went  to  call  their 
(Jueen — others,  St.  Joseph.  Each  of  them  recognized  the  heavenly 
gifts,  and,  with  holy  tears  of  joy,  renewed  their  thanksgiving  to 
the  Most  High.  At  length  they  partook  of  the  repast,  which,  be- 
ing finished,  they  united  in  chanting  praises,  truly  sublime,  to  the 
beneficent  giver  of  every  good  gift.  The  august  Mary  and  her 
Bjjouse  often  experienced  wondei-s  of  this  character,  for  there  wei-e 
no  witnesses  from  whom  it  was  necessary  they  should  be  concealed. 
The  Lord  was  very  liberal  towards  them,  whom  He  had  appointed 
administrators  of  the  most  wonderful  prodigies  which  had  ever 
been  wrought.  It  is  necessary  to  remai'k,  that  when  oar  blessed 
Lady  composed  canticles  of  praise,  either  alone,  or  with  St.  Joseph 
or  the  angels,  we  are  to  understand  that  they  were  always  new, 
like  those  composed  by  St.  Hannah,  mother  of  Samuel ;  Moses ; 


Y 


,mji 


--s    ^ 


W  '^ 


11 


'i  .1- 


■^  »*"*«<"*l»W<»il»««»»i*<,»i,HB. 


Y 

fe 


46 


LIFE   OF   ST.   JOSEPH. 


[chap.  VI. 


Hezekiah,  and  otlier  prophets.  If  they  had  been  written,  they 
wouhl  form  a  large  volumo,  wlilch  would  have  been  the  admiration 
of  all  the  world. 

The  providence  of  the  Most  High  declares  Himself  protector  of 
the  humble  who  confide  in  Him,  because  the  divine  Majesty  re- 
gards them  with  love.  He  is  pleased  with  them — He  bears  thorn 
in  His  bosom — He  is  attentive  to  all  their  desires  and  all  their 
pains.  The  august  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  were  very  poor,  and  often 
found  themselves  in  gi-eat  want,  but  never  did  they  allow  the  poi- 
son of  avarice  or  cupidity  to  enter  their  hearts.  They  sought  the 
glory  of  God  alone,  abandoning  themselves  entirely  to  His  most 
loving  care. 

We  ought  to  be  content  with  what  is  necessary,  and  to  be  con- 
vinced  that  the  providence  of  our  Creator  can  never  fail.  If  He 
be  slow  sometimes  to  send  us  His  help,  we  should  not  be  afflicted 
nor  lose  hope.  He  who  has  abundance  ought  not  to  fix  his  hopes 
upon  it.  We  should  attribute  to  God  both  abundance  and  pover- 
ty, and  make  a  holy  use  of  both.  Let  us  practise  this  doctrine,  and 
abandon  oureelves  to  Providence,  and  nothing  that  is  needful  for 
us  can  ever  be  wanting. 


3; 


'/im\ 


^•'>' 


^4 


W 


CHAPITER  VII. 

I'KICrAUATIONS   FOB  TUB  BIBTII    OF    THE  INFANT   JKSU8.— KDIOT   OF   AU0D8TDS.— 
TUB   BLB8SKD   MAKY    AND  ST.   JOSEPH   OO   TO   BETHI^EHEM. 

The  Mother  of  the  Eternal  Word,  the  holy  Maiy,  seeing  the 
I)o.riod  of  the  birth  of  the  Infant  God  approach,  would  not  under- 
take to  make  the  necessary  preparations  for  it,  without  the  com- 
mands of  her  husband,  and  the  will  of  God.  Although  she  was 
able  to  decide  for  herself  in  whatever  concerned  the  maternal  office, 
she  preferred  to  practise  the  duties  of  an  obedient  and  most  faith- 
ful 8erv»!.t.  She  therefore  consulted  her  holy  spouse,  St.  Joseph. 
"It  is  tint, '  she  said,  "to  1)egin  the  preparations  for  the  birth  of 
my  most  blessed  Son.  With  your  permission,  I  will  provide  the 
swaddling -clotlies  to  receive  Him.  I  have  some' linen,  spun  by 
myself,  which  will  serve  for  a  part,  if  you  will  seek  for  the  finest 
and  softcit  that  can  be  found  for  the  rest.  And  that  all  may  be 
well  doi  e,  let  us  offer  a  special  prayer  to  His  divine  Majesty  that 
Ave  may  do  whatever  is  most  agreeable  to  Him." 

St.  Joseph  rei)lied:  "If  it  were  necessary  to  give  the  purest  of 
my  blood  to  testify  my  readiness  to  render  service  to  my  God,  and 
to  do  what  you  request,  I  should  esteem  myself  happy  to  pour  it 
out  in  the  cruellest  torments.  Order  all  aa  it  seems  best,  for  I  de- 
sii-e  to  obey  you  as  your  servant."  While  they  were  engaged  in 
prayer,  the  Most  High  replied  to  each  in  particular  by  the  same 
voice.  "  I  have  descended  from  heaven  to  eai-th  to  elevate  humility, 
and  to  debase  pride— to  honor  poverty,  and  to  make  riches  con- 
tempti})le.  For  this  reason,  it  is  my  will  that  you  ti-eat  me  in  the 
huuianity  which  I  have  assumed,  in  all  things  exterior,  as  if  I  were 
the  child  of  both  of  you— and  interiorly  you  will  recognize  in  me 
the  Sou  of  my  eternal  Father,  and  true  God,  with  the  veneration 
and  love  due  to  me,  being  man  and  God  at  the  same  time." 

The  august  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  were  confirmed  by  this  divine 
voice  in  the  wisdom  that  should  guide  their  actions  in  all  the  ser- 
vices which  they  were  to  render  to  the  Infant  God.     They  resolved 


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LIFE  OV  BT.  J08KPII. 


[chap.  VU. 


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to  practise  the  most  Hublimo  and  pert't'ct  mode  of  honoring  their 
true  God,  and  never  among  mere  creatures  was  IIo  so  perfectly 
honored.  But  before  tlie  eyes  of  the  world  they  treated  IJim  as  if 
tliey  w(^re  conjointly  His  parents,  because  it  wivs  the  Lord's  will 
that  men  should  so  believe.  The  celestial  inhabitants  were  in 
udinii-ation  at  the  conduct  of  the  holy  spouses,  as  we  shall  relate 
further  on.  They  resolved  also  to  devote  to  the  Infant  God  all  the 
services  which  their  condition  admitted,  without  attracting  obser- 
vation, so  that  the  secret  of  the  great  King  should  be  concealed ; 
neither  should  he  want  for  any  thing,  for,  in  ministering  to  Ilini, 
they  could  manifest  their  ardent  love,  so  far  as  it  was  possible. 

St.  Joseph,  having  received  payment  for  some  of  his  work,  pur- 
chased, according  to  the  Avishes  of  his  spouse,  two  pieces  of  cloth, 
one  white,  and  the  other  nearer  violet  than  gray — the  best  that 
could  be  found.  Our  lovely  Lady  made  of  them  swaddling-clothes 
ft)r  her  most  holy  child.  She  made  little  shirts  of  the  linen  that 
she  had  sj)un  (furing  the  early  period  of  her  marriage,  with  the  in- 
tention of  olfering  it  at  the  Temple.  Happily  her  intention  was 
changed  ;  nevertheless  she  made  an  offering  of  what  w.'is  left.  The 
Blessed  Virgin  had  woven  this  linen  on  her  knees,  with  teai-s  of 
inexpressible  devotion.  St.  Josej)h  also  purchased  flowers  and 
aromatics,  from  which  the  holy  Mother  composed  the  most  delicious 
])crfume  that  ever  was  made.  With  this  she  sprinkled  the  swad- 
dling-clothes consecrated  to  the  Victim,  and,  folding  them,  she 
l)laced  tlusm  in  a  case  which  she  and  St.  Joseph  carried  with  them 
to  liethlehem,  as  we  shall  see. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  remark,  that  all  these  works  recounted 
here,  ought  not  to  be  I'egarded  simply  as  facts.  Their  objects,  and 
the  intentions  which  inspired  them,  redolent  of  sanctity,  and  en- 
riched with  the  highest  perfection,  must  be  taken  into  view.  The 
divine  Mother,  her  heart  all  glowing  with  love,  offered  all  the  sacri- 
fice's which  the  ancient  law  contained  in  figure.  She  realized,  in 
ti'uth,  the  ancient  figui-es,  by  the  exercise  of  virtues  and  acts  both 
interior  and  exterior.  Her  happy  spouse,  on  his  part,  accompanied 
her  in  many  of  them. 

If  the  smallest  portion  of  grace  that  a  creature,  whoever  he  may 
be,  receives,  by  means  of  a  virtue  that  he  hiis  practised,  is  worth 


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oiiAP.  vn.] 


LIFE   OF  8T.  J08RPH. 


49 


more  than  al!  t,h«  iinivei-se,  who  can  estimate  its  greatness  in  her 
wlio  surpasHod  the  merits  of  the  highest  Seraphim  I  Our  holy  Ladv 
saw  the  h.inmnify  united  to  the  Divinity  in  the  person  of  the  Wor.l 
saw  all  the  interior  iwAh  of  the  most  holy  soul  of  her  divine  Son' 
and  the  prayers  that  He  offered  for  her,  for  St.  Joseph,  for  the 
wh..le  human  raoe,  and  especially  for  the  i)redestinate. 

The  Most  High  had  determined,  l.y  His  immutable  will,  that  the 
only  Son  of  the  Father  should  be  born  at  Bethlehem.  The  ancient 
prophets  had  long  since  announced  it.  The  Lord  disposed  all  things 
for  the  accomplishment  of  His  divine  decree;  and  it  was  by  an 
edict  of  Caisar  Augustus,  who  commanded,  as  it  is  recorded  by  St 
Luke,  a  census  to  be  made  of  the  whole  world.  It  consisted  in 
acknowledging  the  authority  of  the  Emperor  of  Rome,  and  paying 
a  certam  tribute.  To  effect  this,  every  one  was  obliged  to  inscribe 
himself  on  the  register  of  his  native  city. 

This  edict  being  published  at  Nazareth,  St.  Joseph  wr«  informed 
of  It.  Returning  home,  in  much  trouble,  he  related  to  his  blessed 
spouse  what  had  happened.  The  most  prudent  Virgin  replied :  "  The 
edict  of  an  earthly  ])otentate  ought  not  to  disturb  you  in  this  man- 
nei-,  since  the  Sovereign  of  heaven  and  earth  takes  care  of  all 
things  that  belong  to  us.  His  Providence  will  assist  us.  Let  ui. 
abandon  ourselves  with  confidence  to  His  guidance." 

The  holy  Virgin  was  instructed  in  all  the  mysteries  of  her  divMie 
Son,  and  she  knew  that  He  was  to  be  born  in  Bethlehem,  poor,  and 
a  sti-anger ;  but  she  said  nothing  of  this  to  St.  Joseph.  They  con- 
ferred together  upon  what  they  ,ght  to  do,  for  the  period  of  the 
birth  of  the  Infant  God  approaohed.  At  length  St.  Joseph  said  to 
his  spouse:  "It  seems  to  me  that  I  cannot  be  dispensed  from  exe- 
cuting this  edict  of  the  emperor.  And  although  it  would  suffice 
to  go  alone,  I  dare  not  leave  you,  for  I  should  not  have  a  moment 
of  i-epose— my  heart  would  be  in  perpetual  alarm.  It  would  be 
i-isking  too  much  to  propose  to  you  to  accompany  me  to  Bethlehem ; 
it  would  expose  you,  too  evidently,  to  danger.  This  apprehensioJ 
gives  me  great  pain.  Present,  I  entreat  you,  my  supplications  to 
the  Most  High,  that  He  may  not  separate  me  from  you." 

The  humble  Mary  obeyed  the  request  of  St.  Joseph,  only  to 
prove  her  obedience,  for  she  was  not  ignorant  of  the  divine  will. 


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LIFK   OK   SI".  JOHKI'll. 

Slu)  tlu'vcforo  laid  the  dcHirca  of  Iwr  fiiitliful  spovisc!  Ix^fon!  the 
Lord,  who  i('|tli('d  to  her:  "Obey  my  Hcrvant  Joseph  in  what  he 
hii8  proposed  mid  dewiref*.  Bear  him  company  iii  this*  journey.  1 
will  be  with  you,  for  it  is  my  will  that  you  Hhoiild  go."  The  I.K)rd 
ordiM-ed  nine  thouaaud  angels  to  join  the  thousand  wlio  formed  her 
giiai'd. 

Our  lileased  Lady  confided  to  St.  Joseph  this  response,  and  de- 
clared that  it  was  tlu;  will  of  the  Most  High  that  she  should  ac- 
company hiiii  to  Bethlehem.  The  saintly  nian  wius  full  of  joy,  and 
expressed  his  humble  gratitude  for  this  favor.  He  said  to  his 
spouse :  "  I  have  no  other  anxiety  in  this  journey  except  the  pain 
which  it  will  cause  to  you.  But  I  hope  to  find  relations  and  friends 
who  will  receive  us  with  kindness."  The  kind  heart  of  the  good 
man  induced  him  to  believe  this,  but  the  Lord  had  disposed  other- 
wise. The  saint  was  mistaken  in  his  expectations,  and  suftered 
much  from  the  disappointment. 

Our  sweet  Lady  forebore  to  reveal  to  St.  Joseph  what  was  already 
known  to  her  touching  the  event  to  be  accomjilished.  They  ap- 
pointed the  day  of  departure,  and  St.  Joseph  went  to  engage  a 
bea-st  of  burden.  It  was  very  difticult  to  find  one,  because  of  the 
great  number  of  pereons  who  were  going  to  their  different  cities  to 
be  enrolled,  in  obedience  to  the  imperial  edict.  At  length  he  found 
a  little  ass,  which,  if  he  could  have  known  it,  was  the  happiest  of 
all  his  race,  since  he  carried  the  Queen  of  tlie  Univei-se,  and  the 
King  of  kings,  and  was  present  at  the  birth  of  the  Infant  God. 
During  five  days  the  august  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  were  engaged  in 
preparations  for  the  journey.  Their  provisions  consisted  of  bread, 
fruits,  and  fish,  as  in  going  to  the  house  of  Zachariah.  And  as  the 
most  prudent  Virgin  knew  that  she  would  be  long  absent  from  the 
house,  she  secretly  arranged  her  affairs  according  to  the  will  of 
God.  Finally,  they  recommended  it  to  a  person  who  Wiis  to  take 
charge  of  it  until  their  return. 

The  hour  of  departure  arrived.  The  blessed  Joseph,  who  treated 
his  beloved  spouse  with  renewed  respect,  sought,  like  a  vigilant 
and  faithful  servant,  to  find  reasons  to  serve  and  please  her.  He 
entreated  her,  with  much  affection,  to  make  known  to  him  all  that 
she  desired  for  her  comfort,  and  for  the  good  plesiaure  of  the  Lord 


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uoen  m( 

■  ""'J'  "■"•'"""  «'r   lUM-  spouse:  siio  ovon  consr.lt..!  and  .ini. 

tnat..l  l,i,n  to  vruhive  the  fntiguo  of  the  ron.l,  for  U\,  ,|ivin,.  M,u 
.rnty  w,ll..,l  that  tli,.y  sI.omM  accopt  tho  ii.(.oi,v.Mii(M.o..H  of  the 
joiinicy  with  an  ('(pmhlc  and  joyous  heart. 

liofore  Hottin^r  n„t,  our  hh-ss,.!  La.ly  k.ielt  to  ask  th.t  I„.„.Mlict,o„ 
of  8t.  Josoph.  Tho  man  of  (}o,l  .x.ns.d  i,i,„,,if  ,„,,,„,,  ^f  ,,,.,. 
dignity,  but  the  ahvays  invincibh.  hninility  of  fche  august  Vii-in 
c-onqueml,  an,]  oblig.Ml  him  to  give  it.  She  then  prayed  him'to 
orter  himself  anew  to  her  most  holy  Son,  and  to  obtain  for  her  His 
divine  grace.  After  these  holy  preparations  they  set  out  for  Reth- 
Jehem  ,n  tho  depth  of  winter,  which  made  the  journey  more  pain 
lul  and  more  inconvenient. 

The  august  Mary  an.l  the  glorious  St.  Joseph  left  Nazareth  to 
go  to  Bethlehem !  Poor  and  humble  travellers  they  were  in  the 
eyes  of  the  worhl,  which  ha.l  no  more  esteem  for  them  than  it  ha<l 
for  humihty  and  poverty.  Rut,  oh  !  wonderf.d  secrets  of  the  Most 
High  !  hidden  from  the  proud  and  impenetrable,  from  the  wisdom  of 
the  flesh  our  travellers  were  not  alone,  nor  poor,  nor  desr.ised. 
Ihey  had  a  magnificent  suite,  inestimable  riches,  and  a  glory  un- 
paralleled. They  were  the  highest  objects  of  the  care  of  the  eter- 
nal Father,  and  of  His  immense  love.  They  bore  with  them  the 
treasures  of  heaven,  and  the  Divinity  itself. 

All  tue  celestial  court  revered  them.  The  insensible  creatures 
recognized  the  living  ark  of  the  Testament  far  better  than  the 
waters  of  the  Jordan  recognized  that  which  was  only  the  type  of 
Her.  With  them  were  the  ten  thousand  angels,  appointed  for  His 
<livme  Majesty  and  His  holy  Mother.  The  incomparable  Mary 
and  her  saintly  spouse  marched  with  this  regal  train,  unseen  by  the 
eyes  of  mortals.  The  angels  chanted  canticles  to  the  I^rd,  and  to 
His  blessed  Mother,  acknowledging  her  sometimes  as  a  car,  incoi- 
ruptible  and  living-sometimes  ixs  the  fertile  ear,  which  contains 
the  hvmg  wheat— sometimes  as  a  richly  freighted  vessel. 

The  holy  travellers  wre  five  days  on  the' way ;  for  the  careful 
husband  would  not  make  long  jouriuys.  There  was  no  night  for 
our  Queen  during  this  time,  for  the  angels  threw  so  bright  a  radi- 
ance around  her  that  the  light  was  equal  to  the  most  serene  day. 


II 


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52 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH, 


[oHAP.  vn. 

St.  Joseph  enjoyed  this  favor,  and  also  the  view  of  the  angels. 
They  formed  a  celestial  choir,  in  which  our  august  Lady  and  her 
spouse  responded  to  the  blessed  spirits  by  canticles  and  hymns  of 
praise. 

The  Lord  united  to  these  favors  some  sufferings.  The  great 
number  of  pei-sons  who  thronged  the  hostelries  to  obey  th^  im- 
perial edict,  were  causes  of  ir.uch  pain  to  the  modesty  of  the  saintly 
Mary  and  her  spause.  They  were  thrust  aside  as  sordid  poor,  and 
received  less  attention  than  others  who  seemed  richer.  Thus  our 
holy  travellere,  weary  and  worn,  were  often  received  with  hai-sh 
words  at  these  hostelries.  Sometimes  they  were  even  sent  away  as 
troublesome,  and  unworthy  of  consideration ;  at  others,  the  mistress 
of  heaven  and  earth  was  put  into  a  corner  of  the  vestibule, — and 
even  this  could  not  always  be  secured,  and  she  and  St.  Joseph  re- 
tired to  places  still  less  proper  or  decent  in  the  world's  estimation. 

The  troop  of  angels  followed  them  everywhere,  so  that  the 
couch  of  the  true  Solomon  was  guarded  from  the  alarms  or  sur- 
prises of  the  night.  The  faithful  spouse,  seeing  the  mistress  of  the 
universe  so  well  cared  for,  reposed  in  peace,  so  as  to  recover  a  little 
from  the  fatigues  of  the  day ;  for  it  frequently  happened  that,  being 
in  the  most  rigorous  season  of  the  year,  and  arriving  at  the  hostel- 
ries half  frozen  by  the  snow  and  rain,  they  were  obliged  to  take 
refuge  among  the  animals,  because  men  gave  them  nothing  more 
commodious. 

The  mistress  of  creatures  might  easily  have  commanded  the 
winds  and  snows,  but  she  forebore,  that  she  might  imitate  her  di- 
vine Son  in  His  sufferings.  The  faithful  St.  Joseph,  nevertheless, 
took  great  care  to  put  her  under  shelter,  and  also  the  holy  angels; 
in  particular  the  prince  St.  Michael,  who  always  assisted  on  the 
right  of  the  queen.  Knowing  that  it  was  the  will  of  the  Lord,  they 
sometimes  protected  her  from  the  rigor  of  the  weather,  and  ren- 
dered other  services  to  our  sweet  Lady,  and  to  the  blessed  fruit  of 
\xer  womb,  Jesus. 


^ 


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LIFE  OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


63 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ARRIVAL  AT   BBTHLKHEM.— BIRTII   OP  JB8PS   IN  A  GROTTO.— ST.  JOSEPH  IS  PRESENT 

AT  THIS    MYSTERY. 

Our  holy  travellers,  the  blessed  Maiy  and  St.  Joseph,  reached 
Bethlehem  on  the  fifth  day  of  their  journey,  on  Saturday,  aoout 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,— the  hour  when,  at  the  winter  solstice, 
tlie  sun  is  near  his  setting,  and  the  night  approaches.  They  en- 
tered the  town  to  seek  a  shelter,  and  having  made  inquiries,  not 
orily  at  the  inns,  but  among  their  relations  and  friends,  they  were 
refused  with  rudeness  and  contempt.  Our  august  Lady  followed 
her  spouse,  who  went  from  house  to  house— from  door  to  door,  in 
the  midst  of  the  crowds  who  arrived.  And,  although  she  knew 
that  the  houses  of  men,  like  their  hearts,  were  closed  against  them, 
she  willingly  endured  all  this  mortification  in  obedience  to  St.  Jo- 
seph. At  the  same  time  it  was  more  painful  to  fiud  herself  in  the 
midst  of  such  a  crowd,  than  to  be  disappointed  in  finding  a  lodging. 
In  wandering  about  the  city,  they  found  the  house  where  tho  regis- 
ter was  kept,  and,  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  i-eturning  thei-e,  they 
inserted  their  names,  and  paid  the  tribute.  Then,  pursuing  their 
way  to  find  a  place  of  refuge,  they  applied  at  more  than  fifty  houses, 
and  were  everywhere  refused.  The  holy  angels  admired  the  won- 
derful mysteries  of  the  Lord,  the  patience  and  sweetness  of  the 
Virgin  Mother,  and  the  insensibility  of  men. 

It  was  nearly  nine  o'clock  m  the  evening  when  the  faithful  St. 
Joseph,  deeply  gr/^ved,  turning  towards  his  prudent  spouse :  "  My 
courage  fails  me,"  he  said,  "  to  find  not  only  that  I  cannot  lodge 
you  according  to  your  merits,  but  that  I  cannot  even  secure  for  you 
such  a  shelter  as  is  rarely  or  never  refused  to  the  poorest  and  most 
contemptible  applicant.  Doubtless  some  mystery  underlies  this. 
[  remember  to  have  seen,  without  the  city  walls,  a  grotto  where 
the  shepherds  are  accustomed  to  fold  their  flocks.  Let  us  go  there, 
for  if  the  place  is  not  occupied,  you  will  there  receive  from  heaven 
the  hospitality  which  men  refuse  to  us." 


'^f^- 


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LIFE   OP   ST.  JOSEPH.  [OHAP.  VIII. 

The  most  prudent  Virgin  replied  :  "  Do  not  afflict  yourself,  my 
pponse.  The  place  you  speak  of  is  quite  conformable  to  my  desires. 
Change  your  tears  into  joy,  for  we  love  and  we  possess  povei'ty, 
which  is  the  inestimable  treasui-e  of  my  holy  Son.  He  comes  from 
heaven  to  seek  it.  Let  us  go  with  pleasure  whither  the  Lord  con- 
ducts us."  Immediately  the  holy  angels  guided  the  saintly  pair 
towards  this  place ;  they  found  it  unoccupied,  and,  full  of  celestial 
joy,  they  praised  the  Lord. 

The  palace  which  the  King  of  king-g  and  Lord  of  lords  had  pre- 
pared in  this  world  to  receive  His  only  Son,  incarnate  for  men,  was 
the  lowly  and  humble  grotto  where  the  most  pure  Mary  and  St. 
Joseph  had  retired,  after  having  been  repulsed  by  all,  as  it  has 
been  related.  This  place  was  so  unpromising,  that,  in  spite  of  the 
extraordinary  affluence  of  strangei-s  at  Bethlehem,  no  one  had 
deigned  to  occupy  it.  In  fact,  it  was  suitable  only  to  the  mastei-s 
of  humility  and  poverty,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  eternal  Father  had 
reserved  it  for  them. 

The  august  Mary  and  Joseph  entered  the  place,  and,  by  the  ra- 
diance of  the  angels,  they  saw  that  it  was  as  poor  and  solitary  as  they 
could  have  wished.  They  then  fell  upon  their  knees,  praising  the 
Lord  with  thanksgivings  for  this  blessing.  The  grotto  was  formed 
out  of  the  natural  rock,  and  was  so  unequal  and  rough,  that  it  was 
fitted  only  for  tlie  lodging  of  animals. 

The  angelic  spirits  assumed  a  corporeal  and  human  form.  St. 
Joseph  saw  them,  for  it  was  proper  that,  on  this  occasion,  he  should 
enjoy  this  favor,  either  to  diminish  his  pain,  or  to  animate  his  spirit 
and  elevate  it  for  the  events  which  the  Lord  had  prepared  for  this 
same  night.  Our  blessed  Lady,  informed  of  the  mystery  which 
was  about  to  be  accomplished,  resolved  herself  to  cleanse  the  grot- 
to. The  holy  Joseph,  attentive  to  the  dignity  of  his  admirable 
spouse,  entreated  her  to  leave  this  care  to  him.  He  therefore  be- 
gan to  sweep  and  pui-ify  every  part  of  it,  and  om-  humble  Lady  sec- 
onded him  to  the  best  of  lier  power.  The  j'ligels  also  assisted  them, 
until  in  a  short  time  the  grotto  was  brought  into  a  decent  condi- 
tion, and  t])ey  filled  it  with  a  delightful  perfume. 

St.  Joseph  kindled  a  fire,  of  which  there  Wiis  much  need,  for  the 
weather  was  very  cold.     They  afterwaids  supped  trom  the  scraps 


I 


f 


^f 


CHAP,  vra.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


85  it9%8a?r* 


u. 


of  food  still  left ;  but  our  sweet  Lady  ate  only  on  the  pressing  so- 
licitations of  her  spouse,  whom  she  desired  to  obey  iu  all  things. 
At  the  close  of  their  repast,  they  returned  thanks  to  God  as  was 
their  custom,  and  afterwai-ds  discoureed  together  concernino"  the 
mystery  of  the  incarnate  Word. 

The  most  prudent  Virgin  knew  that  the  hour  approached.  She 
entreated  St.  Joseph  to  seek  repose,  for  the  night  was  far  advanced. 
The  man  of  God  yielded  to  her  solicitations,  praying  her  to  follow 
his  example.  In  order  to  provide  for  her  the  means  of  rest,  he  ar- 
ranged their  luggage  in  such  a  way  as  to  make  up  a  species  of  crib, 
on  the  floor  of  the  grotto,  and,  leaving  to  the  august  Mary  this  sort 
of  bed,  he  withdrew  into  an  angle  at  the  entrance  to  engage  in 
meditation  and  prayer.  The  Holy  Spirit  came  to  visit  him,  and  he 
felt  himself  drawn  by  a  gentle  force  that  rapt  him  in  ecstasy,  dur- 
ing which  the  events  of  this  night  were  manifested  to  him.  He 
remained  in  this  ecstasy  until  called  by  his  holy  spouse.  This  mys- 
terious slumber  :)f  Joseph  was  more  sublime  and  more  fortunate 
than  that  of  Adam  in  paradise. 

[This  would  be  the  place  to  speak  of  the  wonderful  birth  of  the 
Infant  God,  and  to  admire  the  prodigies  of  every  kind  that  accom- 
panied it ;  but  since  it  is  impossible  to  relate  all,  we  prefer  to  con- 
fine ourselves  to  what  regards  St.  Joseph  exclusively.  The  reader 
who  desires  to  be  informed  of  all  these  circumstances,  is  referred  to 
the  great  work  of  Maria  d'Agreda.  It  is  not  without  lively  regret 
that  we  omit  here  the  narration  of  those  facts  which  have  com- 
manded the  admiration  of  heaven  and  earth.] 

The  evangelist  St.  Luke  relates  that  the  Virgin  Mother,  having 
brought  forth  her  fii-st-born  Son,  wrapped  Him  in  swaddling-clothes, 
and  laid  Him  in  a  manger.  He  does  not  mention  who  placed  Him 
in  her  arras.  But  the  two  princes,  St.  Michael  and  St.  Gabriel, 
were  the  ministers  on  this  occasion,  and  they  presented  Him  to  hei' 
with  as  great  a  reverence  as  when  the  priest  exposes  the  holy  host. 
The  holy  Mother  received  the  Infant  God  into  her  arras  from  these 
two  celestial  princes.  She  served  as  the  altar  and  sanctuary,  which 
the  angels  of  her  guard  approached  to  adore  their  Creator,  and 
venerate  that  youthful  virgin  of  fifteen,  so  worthy  to  dispense  these 


Y 


'>y)« 


i-Jir?* 


i  :!- 


I  aI 


CT^ 


56 


LIFE   OF  8T.  JOSEPH. 


¥ 


tAi^jf 


great  mysteries.  It  was  time  for  the  prudent  Lady  to  call  her 
faithful  spouse,  then  in  a  state  of  divine  ecstasy,  where  he  knew, 
by  revelation,  all  the  mysteries  of  the  sacred  birth  of  this  night. 
It  was  but  just,  that,  before  any  other  mortal,  he  should  enjoy  the 
honor  to  see,  and  the  consolation  to  adore,  by  means  of  his  senses, 
the  Word  made  man,  since  he  had  been  chosen  to  be  the  faithful 
guardian  of  this  sublime  mystery. 

The  saint  returned  fi-om  his  ecstasy,  and,  having  recovered  the 
use  of  his  senses,  the  fii-st  object  that  met  his  view  was  the  Infant 
God,  in  the  arms  of  His  Virgin  Mother,  and  leaning  upon  her 
sacred  face  and  chaste  bosom.  He  adored  Him,  on  this  living  altar, 
with  the  most  profound  humility,  and  with  warm  teai-s  of  tender- 
ness. He  kissed  His  feet  with  new  joy,  and  with  such  raptiirous 
affection,  that,  but  for  the  divine  assistance,  he  could  not  have  sur- 
vived it.  Certainly,  but  for  the  help  of  God,  he  must  have  lost 
his  senses  upon  this  occasion. 

After  St.  Joseph  had  adored  the  Infant,  the  most  discreet  Mother 
asked  permission  of  her  Son  to  seat  herself,  for  she  had,  until  then, 
remained  kneeling.  The  saint  gave  her  the  swaddling-clothes 
which  they  had  bi-ought,  and  she  wrapped  the  Infant  in  them  with 
the  highest  possible  reverence,  devotion,  and  neatness.  After- 
wards, as  it  is  recorded  by  St.  Luke  the  evangelist,  she  laid  Him 
in  the  manger,  carefully  placing  therein  a  little  straw  and  hay,  to 
serve  for  the  fiist  bed  of  the  Incarnate  Word  on  earth.  It  was 
then  that,  guided  by  the  Divine  will,  an  ox  came  from  the  field, 
and  joining  the  ass  which  they  had  brought  with  them,  they 
warmed,  by  their  breath,  the  Infant  God  whom  men  had  refused 
to  receive.  And  thus  was  miraculously  accomplished  the  prophecy 
of  Isaiah :  "7%<?  ox  knaweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib, 
but  Israel  hath  not  hnoivn  meP — Is.  i.  3. 

The  heavenly  courtiers,  having  celebrated,  in  the  grotto  of  Beth- 
lehem, the  birth  of  their  Incarnate  God,  and  our  Redeemer,  many 
of  them  were  sent  to  different  places  to  announce  the  happy  tidings 
to  those  who  were  prepared  to  hear  them.  The  prince,  St.  Michael, 
was  directed  to  the  fathers  in  Limbo,  to  inform  them  that  the  only 
Son  of  the  Eternal  Father,  who  was  made  man,  had  just  been  born. 
He  boi-e  messages,  on  the  part  of  the  blessed  Mother,  to  St.  Joa- 


'Jri. 


^||\W 


Vc^' 


«r^J 


OHAP.  vm.J 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


57 


chim  and  St.  Anna.    For  this  numerous  assembly  of  the  just  it  wa« 
the  day  ot  great  consolation. 

Another  angel  was  sent  to  St.  Elizabeth  and  her  son  John,  who 
adored  their  Incarnate  God.  As  soon  as  St.  Elizabeth  heard  of  it 
she  instantly  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Bethlehem  with  present^ 
to  the  Mother  of  the  Infant  God,  consisting  of  a  small  sum  of  money 
linen  and  other  things,  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  poor  Mother 
and  her  saintly  spouse.  But  the  messenger  had  no  orders  but  to 
visit  her  cousin  and  St.  Joseph,  to  leave  her  gifte,  to  inform  himself 
ot  tueir  necessities,  and  quickly  to  bring  her  news  of  them.     On  his 

""fl'^'rlnTTf  '"  ^'-  ^^'^^''^'  '^'  P^^^'-^y  «f  ^'^  relative, 
of  the  Child  and  Joseph,  and  the  strange  feelings  that  he  had  ex- 
perienced while  with  them. 

Other  angels  also  went  to  announce  the  same  glad  tidings  to 
Zachariah  to  Simeon,  and  to  Anna  the  prophetess,  because  the 
Lord  found  each  prepared  to  receive  them  with  advantage  All 
the  just  then  living  on  the  earth,  although  unacquainted  with  this 
mystery,  were,  nevertheless,  sensible  of  its  divine  effects  when  the 
Sav.our  was  born.  To  some,  indeed,  the  Lord  revealed  it,  and  of 
this  number  were  the  Magi,  who  were  inspired  with  renewed  de- 
sues  to  seek  Him. 

The  neighboring  shepherds  were  blest  above  all  others  They 
were  of  those  who  waited  for  and  desired  the  coming  of  the  Mes- 
siah;  and  humble  and  poor,  they  were  engaged  in  watching  their 
flocks  at  the  time  of  the  bii-th.  Hence  they  were  in  a  state  of  holy 
preparation:  they  merited  to  be  the  first-called.  The  archangel 
bt.  Gabriel  was  sent  to  them.  They  were  troubled  at  seeing  him 
but  the  celestial  prince  reassured  them.  Illuminated  by  the  divine 
wisdom,  they  set  off  for  Bethlehem,  to  witness  the  miracle  of  which 
they^  had  just  heard.  On  entering  the  grotto,  they  found,  as  it 
IS  said  by  St.  Luke,  Mary  and  Joseph,  and  the  Infant  laid  in  a 
manger. 

The  divine  Infant  looked  upon  them,  and,  prostrate,  they  adored 
the  incarnate  Word.  The  blessed  Moth.r  was  attentive  to  all 
bhe  spoke  with  the  shepherds,  and  instructed  them.  Thev  ,nade 
afterwards,  several  other  visits,  during  the  sojourn  of  tlu:  holy 
family  in  the  grotto,  and  brought  them  presents  proportioned  to 


XJ:?^afi:s3 


V 


jj 


^ 


58 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[ciiAP.  vni. 


I'M 


Z-^ 


their  poverty.  They  did  not  speak  of  what  they  had  seen  until 
after  tlie  blessed  Maiy,  the  Infant,  and  St.  Joseph  had  departed 
from  Bethlehem.  Their  testimony  was  not  believed  by  all ;  but 
Herod  believed,  only  not  with  a  holy  faith.  They  were,  neverthe- 
less, saints,  and  filled  with  divine  science,  even  to  their  death. 

The  coming  of  the  incarnate  Word  was  terrible  only  for  hell. 
Many  things  wei-e  concealed  from  Lucifer  and  his  agents,  which  he 
might  natui-ally  have  known ;  but  he  considered  it  an  idle  fancy 
to  believe  that  the  Word  would  come  and  establish  His  power  in 
so  obscure  and  humble  a  manner.  The  Mother  of  wisdom  pene- 
trated all  the  deceit  of  Lucifer.  She  glorified  the  Lord,  and  offered 
prayers  for  all  of  the  human  race,  who,  by  their  sins,  had  made 
themselves  unworthy  to  recoguisje  the  Light  who  had  just  been 
born  to  redeem  them. 


* 


CHAP.  IX.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  J08EPIL 


.59 


'i 


CHAPTER  IX. 


I 


^ 


WM\ 


8ENT1MBNTS  OF  THE  AUGUST   MOTHER  AND  ST.  JOSEPH  FOB  THE  mPANT  GOD.-THE 
CIBCUMCISION.— THE  SPOUSES   QIVB   HIM  THE  NAME  OF  JESUS. 

During  the  time  that  our  august  Lady  abode  in  the  grotto, 
which  was  an  incommodious  place,  and  exposed  to  the  inclemency 
of  the  weathei-,  she  took  the  greatest  care  to  protect  her  tender 
and  sweet  Child.  She  had  brought  coverings  with  her  for  this 
purpose,  and  she  held  Him  almost  constantly  in  her  arms,  except 
when  she  left  Him  in  those  of  St.  Joseph.  She  wished  to  afford 
him  the  gratification  to  aid  her  in  this  service,  and  that  he  should 
serve  the  Incarnate  God  in  the  office  of  father. 

The  fii-st  time  the  saint  received  the  Infant  God,  our  blessed 
Lady  said  to  him,  "Eeceive  within  your  arms,  my  spouse,  the  Cre- 
ator  of  heaven  and  earth.    Enjoy  His  sweet  companionship,  so  that 
my  Lord  and- my  God  may  take  delight  in  you."     And  speaking 
interiorly  with  the  divine  Infant  she  said,  "Rest  in  the  arms  ol 
your  servant  and  friend  Joseph,  my  spouse.     It  pains  me  to  be 
without  you  for  a  single  instant,  but  I  wish  to  share  my  blessing 
with  him  who  is  worthy  of  it."    The  faithful  St.  Joseph,  conscious 
of  this  new  happiness,  humbled  himself  profoundly.     "  Queen  ol 
the  universe,"  he  replied,  «  how  can  I  dare,  I  who  am  so  unworthy, 
to  hold  in  my  arms  the  same  God  in  whose  presence  the  pillars  of 
heaven  tremble.     Supply  my  deficiencies,  my  baseness,  and  pray 
His  divine  Majesty  to  regard  me  with  clemency."    The  holy  man, 
hesitating  between  his  desire  to  receive  the  Infant  God  and  the  re- 
spectful fear  that  held  him  back,  offered  to  Him  acts  of  love,  foith, 
li umility,  and  respect.    He  fell  on  his  knees,  and  received  Him  with 
a  holy  trembling  and  inconceivable  veneration  from  the  hands  of 
His  blessed  mother,  shedding  gentle  teai-s  of  joy.    The  Infant  God 
regarded  him  with  a  caressing  air;  and  at  the  same  time  renovated 
his  soul  by  His  divine  influence.     The  faithful  Joseph,  finding  him- 
self enriched  by  so  many  and  such  magnificent  favors,  gave  utter- 
ance to  new  canticles  of  praise.     After  enjoying  for  a  time  the  in- 


SH 


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$f    60 


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LIB'E   OF  ST.  J08KPII 


[OHAP.  IX. 


.* 


1^ 


tm^^ 


effable  delight  of  folding  the  Lord  in  his  arms,  he  restored  Him 
to  Hia  blessed  mother.  They  both  plntuvl  themselves  on  their 
knees  to  give  or  to  receive  Him,  and  at  all  times  with  the  same 
veneration.  They  made  three  genuflexions  before  approaching 
His  divine  Majesty,  kissing  the  earth  with  the  greatest  humility 
and  adoration. 

Much  more  might  be  said  of  the  veneration  observed  by  the 
blessed  Virgin,  St.  Joseph,  and  the  angelic  spirits  towards  the  In- 
fant God.  When  the  saint  was  occupied,  St.  Michael  or  St.  Gar 
briel  bore  Him  in  their  arms.  No  tongue  can  do  justice  to  the 
canticles  of  praise  and  glory  which  the  Queen  of  heaven  chanted 
with  the  angels  and  St.  Joseph,  who,  of  all  mortals,  was  most  happy 
and  most  favored  in  this  respect.  Besides  these  favors,  he  received 
another,  most  precious  to  his  soul.  His  most  gentle  spouse,  in 
M  speaking  with  him  of  the  Infant,  called  Him  often,  your  son :  not 
**  that  He  was  really  the  Son  of  St.  Joseph,  for  He  was  the  Son  only 
of  tlie  Eternal  Father,  and  of  His  Virgin  Mother.  This  favor  was 
an  unspeakable  joy  to  the  Saint,  and  his  spouse  often  renewed  it. 

In  regard  to  the  circumcision  of  her  Son,  the  wise  Mary  had  no 
express  order  from  the  Eternal  Father.  She  considered,  on  the 
one  hand,  that  her  holy  Son  came  to  confirm  the  law  in  fulfilling  it 
Himself,  and  more  than  this,  to  suffer  for  mankind :  hence  He  would 
not  refuse  the  pain  of  circumcision.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  ma- 
ternal love  and  compassion  led  her  to  desire  the  exemption  of  her 
^'y  beloved  Son  from  the  sufferings  consequent  upon  it.  She  confided 
her  sentiments  regarding  this  mystery  to  her  chaste  spouse,  who  so 
tenderly  sympathized  in  these  mingled  feelings,  that  he  was  moved 
to  tears. 

Before  the  eight  days  after  His  birth  vere  accomplished,  the 
Queen  of  heaven  addressed  herself  in  prayer  to  the  divine  Majesty, 
who  ttus  responded:  "You  kr.ow  well  that  you  must  offer  me 
your  Son  and  mine  to  endure  this,  and  other  far  greater  sufferings. 
Let  Him  then  shed  His  blood,  and  give  me  the  fii-st-fruits  of  the 
eternal  salvation  of  men." 

The  august  Mary  then  explained  to  St.  Joseph,  with  rare  pru- 
dence, the  reasons  why  he  should  prepare  himself  for  the  circum- 
cision of  the  Infant  God.     She  reminded  him  that  the  time  pre 


m 


cr^- 


ill 


CHAP.  IX.J 


LIFK   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


61 


m 


scribed  by  the  law  approached,  and  that  they  must  submit  to  it, 
having  no  order  to  the  contrary.  Her  saintly  spouse  replied, 
that  "  he  would  conform  himself  to  the  divine  pleasure  in  all 
things  made  manifest  by  the  common  law."  lie  then  inquired  how 
the  circumcision  should  be  performed. 

The  blessed  Virgin  said,  that,  in  fulHlling  the  law,  she  would 
n(»t  be  separated  from  the  Infant,  nor  place  Him  in  charge  of  any 
other  pereon,  but  that  she  would  support  Him  in  her  own  arms. 
Yet  since,  from  His  temperament.  His  pain  would  be  greater  than 
that  of  ordinary  children,  it  would  be  necessary  to  be  prepared  with 
remedies  for  the  wound.  The  careful  mother  prayed  St.  Joseph 
also  to  seek  a  vial  of  crystal  in  which  to  gather  the  precious  blood, 
which  she  wished  to  preserve ;  and  she  had  linen  cloths  also  ready, 
so  that  not  a  drop  should  fall  on  the  ground.  St.  Joseph  then  went 
to  call  a  priest,  whom  he  begged  to  come  to  the  grotto  to  perform 
the  rite  of  circumcision,  as  being  the  legitimate  minister  for  this  cifice. 

The  august  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  discoursed  together  respecting 
the  name  which  they  should  give  to  the  Infant  God  in  the  circum- 
cision. "  When  the  angel,"  said  St.  Joseph,  "  declared  to  me  the 
great  mys'.ery  of  the  incarnation,  he  commanded  me  to  call  your 
divine  Son  Jesm.'^  The  Virgin  Mother  replied:  "He  made  the 
same  declaration  to  me  when  the  Word  was  made  flesh  in  my  bosom. 
Therefore  we  will  request  the  priest  to  give  Him  this  name  on  the 
register  of  circumcised  children." 

While  the  Queen  of  heaven  and  St.  Joseph  held  this  discoui-se, 
innumerable  troops  of  angels  descended  from  heaven  in  human 
form,  and  of  incomparable  beauty.  They  bore  a  device,  upon 
which  was  engraved  the  name  of  Jesus.  The  two  archangels,  St. 
Michael  and  St.  Gabriel,  each  held  in  their  hands  a  luminous  globe 
of  wondrous  beauty  and  splendor,  within  which  was  written  the 
most  holy  name  of  Jesus.  They  thus  addressed  their  Queen :  "This 
name  which  you  see  is  that  of  your  Son.  The  Most  Holy  Trinity 
have  given  it  to  your  only  Son  our  Lord,  with  power  to  save  the 
human  race.  He  will  chastise  His  enemies,  and  reduce  them  to 
serve  as  His  footstool.  He  will  exalt  His  friends,  and  place  them 
in  glory  at  His  right  hand.  But  all  this  must  be  purchased  by  His 
sufferings  and  His  blood." . 


Y 


zs^aakvT; 


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-  mi'^i.  -t.***.*^, .  i«.,,.  „^,.  ..g,.^ 


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'i^xi'm^ 


*A^ 


LIFE   OF   9T.  JOSEI'II 

The  most  happy  St.  Josopli  saw  and  heard  all.  He  was  unable 
to  penetrate;  the  mysteries  of  the  redemption  like  the  mother  of 
wisdom,  hut  he  discovered  some  of  them.  The  holy  spouses  were 
filled  with  joy  and  adn»i"ation:  in  brief,  there  passed  between 
them,  or  in  their  presence,  at  various  times,  so  many  wonderful 
things,  that  it'would  be  impossible  to  convey  any  just  idea  of  them. 

There  was  at  IJethlehem  a  syuagogue,  not  for  offering  sacrifices, 
which  could  ])e  offered  only  at  Jerusalem,  but  to  read  there  the 
Law  of  Moses.  The  priest,  who  was  minister  of  the  law,  was  also 
of  the  rite  of  circumcision.  Nevertheless,  any  one  could  circumcise. 
Our  august  Mother  desired,  because  of  the  dignity  of  the  Infant, 
that  the  priest  should  be  the  minister,  and  for  this  reason  it  waa 
that  the  happy  St.  Joseph  summoned  him.  The  priest  came  to  the 
grotto.  At  the  view  of  the  Mother  and  the  Child  his  heart  waa 
sensibly  touched  with  singular  devotion  and  tenderness.  The  hap- 
piness which  he  enjoyed  in  touching  the  flesh  of  the  Infant  God 
renewed  him  T)y  a  secret  power,  and  rendered  him  holy  and  agree- 
able to  the  Supreme  Lord  of  the  universe. 

In  order  to  perform  the  circumcision  with  all  the  respect  that 
was  possible  in  such  a  place,  St.  Joseph  lighted  candles.  The  priest 
requested  the  "Virgin  Mother  to  withdraw  for  a  little  space,  to  avoid 
the  pain  of  witnessing  the  sacrifice,  but  she  prayed  the  minister  of 
God  to  permit  hei-  to  assist  at  the  sacrament.  The  priest  then  con- 
sented that  she  should  support  the  Infant  in  her  arras.  Thus  she 
w!is  the  consecrated  altar  upon  which  the  verities  represented  by 
the  ancient  sacrifices  began  to  be  accomplished. 

The  blessed  Mother  unswathed  her  divine  Child,  and,  drawing 
from  her  bosom  a  linen  cloth,  she  placed  it  under  the  Infant,  so 
that  it  should  receive  the  blood  and  the  relics  of  the  circumcision. 
The  priest  accomplished  his  office,  and  the  Infant  God  offered  to 
the  Eternal  Father  three  things  of  such  infinite  value,  that  each 
would  suffice  for  the  redemption  of  a' thousand  worlds:  the  first 
was  the  form  of  a  sinner ;  the  second,  the  pain  He;  suffered  as  man  ; 
the  third.  His  most  ardent  love,  with  which  He  began  to  shed  His 
blood  for  the  redemption  of  men.  The  tender  and  affectionate 
Mother  gathered  the  sacred  relics  and  the  blood  shed  upon  the 
linen,  and  placed  the  whole  in  the  care  of  St.  Joseph. 


¥ 


i 


m 

w 


m 


m 


^'ii 


CHAP.  IX.] 


^ 


LIPK   OF  8T.  JOSKPir. 


68 


im 


i 


The  pncst  inquired  of  the  holy  8p,n.8e«  what  name  they  intended 
to  g.ve  to  the  circumcised  child.  Our  sweet  Lady,  always  attentive 
to  the  respect  which  .he  bora  to  St.  Josc-ph,  requested  him  to  de- 
dare  ,t.  The  saint,  turning  towards  her  with  veneration,  intimated 
that  so  sweet  a  name  sh„uld  l.e  pronounced  l.y  her  lips-when  l.y 
a  d.vme  disposition,  Mary  and  Joseph  said,  at  the  same  moment- 
".  W  t.9  His  name.-  The  priest  replie.l :  -  You  are  of  one  mmd 
in  this,  the  name  you  give  to  th(!  Infant  is  great."  In  writing  it  he 
wiis  touched  by  a  great  interior  tenderness,  saying  to  them-  "I 
assure  you  that  I  believe  tLis  Child  will  be  a  great  prophet  of  the 
J.ord.  The  august  spouses  re].lied  to  the  priest,  by  an  liumble 
acknowledgme.it,  and,  having  given  him  the  wax  lighte,  and  some 
other  trifles  as  offerings,  he  departed. 

The  holy  Virgin  and  her  spouse  remained  alone  with  the  Infant 
They  celebrated  anew  the  mystery  of  the  circumcision  by  canticles 
which  they  composed  in  honor  of  the  most  sweet  name  of  Jesus' 
The  careful  Mother  dressed  the  wound  of  the  Infant  God  with  the 
usual  remedies.  She  invited  the  angels  to  sing.  The  ministei-s  of 
the  Most  High  obeyed  their  Queen,  and  with  heavenly  melody 
they  chanted  the  same  canticles  which  she  and  St.  Joseph  had  com- 
posed  in  praise  of  the  most  sweet  name  of  Jesus. 


V 

to? 


ilia 
111  I'.  ■ 


'  I? 


^^^ 


LIFlli   OV  ST.   JOHKPU. 


[mi  A  P.  Jt. 


Y 

tear 


'S^ 


%■» 


3W 


M 


iJ^I, 


V 


CHAPrER  X. 

TUB   nOTAL  MAGI    COMK  TO   ADOUK  THE   INFANT  OOD  IN   TIIK  aBOTTO    OF  Tll« 
NATIVITY.— 8T.  JOSKTII    IS    PllKSKNT   AT  TIIIH    MYSTBBT. 

OuB  bleased  Lmly  knew,  by  infused  science  from  tlie  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, that  the  Magi  would  come  from  the  East,  to  acknowledge 
and  adore  her  most  holy  Son.  She  had  been  informed  of  this  aj)- 
proaching  mystery  by  the  angel  who  had  been  sent  to  these  kings 
to  announce  the  birth  of  the  incarnate  Word.  St.  Joseph  had  re- 
ceived no  intelligence  of  this  mystery,  because  it  had  not  been  re- 
vealed to  him :  therefore,  the  circumcision  having  been  celebrated, 
the  holy  man  proposed  to  our  sweet  Lady  to  quit  their  poor  abode, 
for  now  they  could  easily  find  some  hostelry  in  Bethlehem  to  which 
they  could  retii'e,  until  the  time  should  come  to  present  the  Infant 
in  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem. 

This  u»o8t  faithful  and  careful  spouse  was  in  continual  diftresH  at 
not  being  able  to  procure  for  the  Son  and  His  mother  the  comforts 
which  they  had  need  of,  yet  he  referred  all  to  the  wishes  of  his 
spouse.  The  humble  Mary  replied,  without  revealing  the  mystery : 
"  I  am  ready  to  do  all  that  you  command  ;  do  whatever  you  judge 
to  be  best."  This  virtuous  indiflference  threw  St.  Joseph  into 
greater  perplexity,  for  he  had  hoped  that  his.  spouse  would  decide 
what  should  be  done. 

While  they  conferred  together,  the  Lord  answered  by  the  minis- 
tiy  of  the  princes  St.  Michael  and  St.  Gabriel:  "The  Divine  will 
ordains  that  the  three  kings  who  come  from  the  East  to  seek  the 
King  of  heaven  shall  adore  in  this  same  place  the  Word  made  man. 
It  is  ten  days  since  they  began  their  journey,  and  they  will  very 
soon  be  here."  By  this  new  information,  St.  Joseph  was  consoled 
and  informed  of  the  will  of  the  Ix)rd.  The  Blessed  Virgin  remarked 
tliat,  "Although  this  place  may  be  poor  and  uncomfortable  to  the 
eyes  of  the  world,  it  is,  nevertheless,  precious,  since  the  Lord  is  con- 
tent with  it."  These  words  of  our  prudent  Lady  afforded  a  sensible 
joy  to  St.  Joseph,  who  replied,  that  "  they  could,  perhaps,  remain 


i9 


m 


.'■^♦iirVfetJJa^U^*****-,  ^t.^ 


k 


W) 


i 


OUAT.  XVL] 


UFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


»7 


oHAPTER  XVI. 

THB  AUaUST  UABT  AND  ST.  JOSEPH  DISCOVBB  TBE  IN7AMT  IN  THE  TBHPLB  AHOKO 
THE  DOCrOES. — BETUEN  TO   NAZAKBTH. 

Our  blessed  Lady,  ever  so  assiduous  in  the  service  of  her  divine 
Son,  had,  nevertheless,  lost  sight  of  Him,  and  left  Him  to  wander 
away  from  her  at  Jerusalem.  Although  it  might  suffice  to  say  that 
the  same  Lord  so  ordained  it,  we  may  also  perceive  how  this  sepa- 
ration was  effected.  It  is  certain  that,  besides  taking  advantage  of 
the  multitudes  of  people,  the  Infant  God  used,  also,  supernatural 
means,  and  while  the  men  and  women  were  separating  from  each 
other,  the  Omnipotent  Lord  gave  to  His  blessed  Mother  an  intel- 
lectual vision,  which  so  possessed  all  her  faculties,  and  so  elevated 
her  above  things  of  sense,  that  she  was  unable  to  do  more  than 
mechanically  to  follow  the  path  she  travelled.  St.  Joseph  had  the 
reasons  we  have  already  adverted  to,  but  he,  also,  was  elevated  to 
a  most  sublime  contemplation,  which  induced  a  more  ready  acqui 
esconce  in  the  idea  that  the  Infant  had  accompanied  His  Mother, 
and  by  this  means  the  adorable  Child  separated  himself  from  His 
parents  and  remained  at  Jerusalem.  He  withdrew  himself  when 
near  the  gates  of  the  city,  and,  returning,  He  traversed  the  streets, 
meditating,  by  His  divine  science,  on  the  events  of  the  future,  and 
offering  himself  to  His  Father  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 

In  order  to  inaugurate  the  honor  of  humble  mendicity,  as  the 
eldest  son  of  holy  poverty,  He  employed  three  days  in  asking  alms. 
He  visited  the  hospitals,  consoled  all  the  poor  whom  He  found  there, 
and  shared  with  them  the  alms  He  had  received.  He  secretly  re- 
stored to  several  sick  persons  health  of  body,  and  to  many  that  of  the 
soul.  He  wrought  these  mu-acles  in  favor  of  some  who  had  showed 
Him  kindness,  wishing  to  accomplish,  in  advance,  the  promise  that 
lie  would  afterwards  make  to  His  Church. 

Having  occupied  himself  with  these  and  many  other  works,  ac- 
cording to  the  will  of  Grod,  He  went  to  the  Temple,  where,  on  the 
day  mentioned  by  St.  Luke,  the  Rabbis,  or  doctoi-s  of  the  law, 


m 


Sj 


i':A 


rmc 


m 


\im\\\\ 


**«^*  «i-^(Qrf«U(^5«jSfe.fc^ 


LIFE  OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


[chap.  x\i.    jJiSf 


■^tl^l 


were  assembled  in  an  apartment,  where  they  disputed  whether  the 
Messiah  was  not  already  born.  They  were  installed  in  their  seats 
with  that  authority  which  usually  accompanies  those  who  pass  for 
learned  men.  The  Infant  Jesus  approached  the  assembly.  The 
opinions  of  the  doctoi-s  upon  this  subject  were  widely  different,  for 
some  asserted  the  fact,  while  others  denied  it ;  and  those  who  sup- 
ported the  negative,  alleged  the  testimony  of  the  Scriptures  and 
the  prophecies,  understood  by  them  in  the  gross  manner  which  the 
Apostle  mentions. 

Now,  these  sages,  as  they  deemed  themselves,  advanced  the 
opinion  that  the  Messiah  ought  to  come  with  all  the  majesty  and 
pomp  of  a  monarch,  but,  as  yet,  they  saw  no  indications  of  this 
power  and  liberty. 

The  Master  of  Truth,  Jesus,  perceived  that  the  discussion  was 
about  to  terminate  in  this  error,  for,  although  there  were  men  who 
held  the  contrary  opinion,  their  number  was  small.  His  immense 
charity  could  not  endure  this  ignorance  of  His  works,  and  their 
sublime  ends,  in  these  interpretere  of  the  law.  The  Infant  God 
drew  nearer.  He  entered  into  the  midst  of  the  assembly  with  ad- 
mirable beauty  and  majesty,  and  excited  in  these  doctors  the  desire 
to  hear  Him  with  attention. 

He  opened  His  discourse,  saying:  "I  have  heard  all  that  has 
been  said  touching  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  the  conclusion 
lespecting  it.  In  offering  an  objection  to  this  decision,  I  presup- 
pose what  the  prophets  have  said,  viz. :  That  His  coming  should  be 
with  great  })ower,  and  with  glorious  majesty ;  for  Isaiah  declares 
that  He  shall  be  our  legislator,  our  king,  who  shall  save  His  people. 
Daniel  assures  us  that  all  tribes  and  pll  people  shall  serve  Him. 
The  Scriptures  are  filled  with  similar  promises.  But  my  doubt  is 
founded  on  these  passages  and  divera  othei-s.  The  same  Isaiah  says 
that  He  shall  be  satiated  with  opprobrium,  and  led  like  a  sheep  to 
the  slaughtei'.  Jeremiah  tells  us  that  His  enemies  should  assemble 
to  erase  His  name  from  the  land  of  the  living ;  and  David,  that  He 
would  be  the  refuse  of  the  people.  How  will  it  be  possible  to  har- 
monize these  prophecies  ?  We  cannot  deny  that  the  Messiah  must 
come  twice — the  fii-st  time,  to  redeem  the  world ;  the  second,  to 
judge  it.     The  prophecies  should,  then,  be  applied  to  these  two 


i 


i 


i 


LIFE  OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


99 


OHAl*.  XVL] 

events,  giving  to  each  what  belongs  to  it.  Following  these  obser- 
vations, if  we  conclude  that  the  first  advent  will  be  with  power 
and  majesty,  this  must  not  be  undei-stood  in  a  material  sense,  but 
of  a  new  spiritual  kingdom.  And  with  this  just  interpretation,  all 
the  Scriptures,  which  cannot  be  harmoniz(  in  any  other  sense 
will  be  found  uniform." 

To  these  the  Infant  God  joined  many  other  i  sons.  The  scribes 
and  doctors,  who  had  listened  to  Him,  remained  ilent.  At  length, 
"  What  wonder  is  this  ?"  said  they.  "  Whence  comes  this  marvel- 
lous child  r  The  august  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  arrived  in  time  to 
hear  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse.  The  doctors  of  the  law  arose, 
and  our  blessed  Lady,  overwhelmed  with  joy  to  have  found  her 
treasure,  approached  her  divine  Child,  and  said,  as  it  is  related  by 
St.  Luke :  «&;.,  why  Jiast  Thou  done  so  to  mf  Behold,  Thy  father 
ami  I  have  muglU  Thee,  sorrowing  r  His  Majesty  replied  to  her: 
''How  is  it  tiMt  you  sought  me  ?  Did  you  not  hnow  that  I  must  he 
about  my  Fatlier'^s  business  V 

The  Evangelist  relates  that  the  blessed  Mary  and  St.  Joseph  did 
not  understand  the  mysteiy  of  these  words.  It  was  because  of 
their  interior  joy,  which  they  had  sowed  in  teai-s.  The  prudent 
Mother  said  to  her  divine  Son :  "  Do  not  separate  me  from  your 
presence.  Receive  me  for  your  servant,  and  if  through  my  own 
fault  I  have  lost  you,  I  entreat  your  pardon."  The  Infant  God  re- 
ceived her  with  complaisance,  and  they  again  set  out  for  Nazareth. 
After  they  had  gone  a  short  distance  from  Jerusalem,  our  blessed 
Lady  prostrating  herself,  adored  her  holy  Son,  and  asked  His  bene- 
diction. The  divine  Jesus  raised  her  from  the  ground,  and  spoke 
to  her  with  great  sweetness.  Afterwards  He  lifted  the  veil,  and, 
with  greater  clearness  than  ever  before,  revealed  to  her  His  most 
holy  soul  and  its  operations. 

The  blessed  Mother  conversed  with  her  most  sweet  Child  re- 
specting the  mysteries  that  He  had  opened  to  her.  The  celestial 
Master  informed  her  that  these  doctors  and  scribes  knew  not  that 
11:3  majesty  was  the  Messiah,  because  of  their  presumption  and 
confidence  in  their  own  wisdom.  Our  Redeemer  converted  many 
souls  during  this  journey,  and,  as  His  holy  Mother  was  present,  He 
made  her  the  instrument  of  these  miracles.      He  restored  many 


3i1 


mm, 


■•■-■  aw««*^f«^-.*,.^ 


>:_: 


100 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


sick  pei-sous  to  liealth,  He  comforted  the  afflicted,  and  wrought 
''i^lj^ft       other  wonders  which  I  do  not  pause  to  recount. 
i     j^VJ  They  arrived  at  Nazareth.    The  Evangelist  St.  Luke  includes, 

P/MhJ!  in  a  few  brief  words,  the  mysteries  of  their  history :  "  The  Infmu 
Jesm  was  ml^ject  to  IBs  parents,''  i.e.,  to  His  holy  Mother  and  St. 
Joseph.  ''His  Mother  Tcept  all  these  words  in  lier  heart,  and  Jesns 
advanced  in  wisdom  and  age  and  grace  with  God  and  many  We 
shall  speak  of  this  further  on,  adding,  only,  at  this  time,  that  the 
humility  and  obedience  of  our  Lord  towards  His  parents  offered 
new  subjects  of  admiration  to  the  angels,  as  did  also  the  dignity  of 
His  pure  Mother,  to  whom  the  God  Incarnate  was  confided,  in  order 
that,  by  the  help  of  St.  Joseph,  she  might  minister  to  His  wants. 

Although  the  obedience  of  the  Son  was  only  a  consequence  of 
the  natural  maternity,  still,  to  exercise  the  rights  of  a  Mother  over 
her  Son,  a  different  grace  was  necessary  from  that  which  she  had 
received  to  conceive  and  bring  Him  forth.  The  august  Mary  pos 
sessed  all  these  needful  graces,  proportioned  to  this  ministry  and 
office,  and  with  such  abundance,  that  they  were  reflected  upon  hei 
happy  spouse,  so  that  he  was  also  the  worthy  foster-father  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  head  of  this  most  holy  family. 


i 


a 


i/'^ 


iP>>#Wimawi 


"*?^ '  ??■ 


"i.:^: 


K\M  _  ■' 


Em   I 


'\-<- 

«r^ 


il'i 


i 


CHAP,  xvn.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 


101 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

ST.  JOSEPH  IS  NO  LONGEB  ABLE  TO  WOKK.-CONDUCT  OF  THE  AUGUST  MARY 
AND  THE  DIVINE  JESUS,  DURING  MORE  THAN  EIGHT  YEARS  THAT  THE  HOI.Y 
PATRIARCH   LIVED  IN  SICKNESS   AND   INFIRMITIES. 

The  Queen  of  heaven  completed  her  thirty-third  year,  and  her 
chaste  form  retained  all  its  natural  perfections  so  beautifully  and 
well   proportioned,  that   it  was   the   admiration   of   the   angelic 
chou-s.     Her  sacred  body  had  reached  its  full  development,  so  that 
this  august  Princess  resembled  the  holy  humanity  of  her  Son     The 
pure  Mary  preserved  this  admirable  complexion  at  thirty-three, 
without  the  least  change,  and  at  the  age  of  seventy,  she  had  lost 
nothing  of  her  strength  and  beauty.     Our  blessed  Lady  undei-stood 
this  privilege.     She  knew  that  the  resemblance  of  the  humanity  of 
her  divme  Son  was  to  be  always  preserved  in  her.     St.  Joseph  was 
not  aged  when  this  lovely  Queen  had  attained  her  thirty-third  year 
nevertheless  his  strength  was  much  exhausted,  because  the  cares' 
travels,  and  continued  pains  he  had  taken  for  the  support  of  his 
spouse  and  the  Lord  of  the  universe,  had  worn  upon  his  health 
more  than  his  yeai-s.     The  Lord,  who  desired  to  advance  him  in 
the  exercise  of  patience  and  the  other  virtues,  permitted  him  to 
suffi.r  from  certain  maladies,  that  hindered  him  much  from  appli- 
cation to  manual  labor.     His  prudent  spouse,  who  had  always 
appreciated,  loved,  and  served  him  beyond  all  that  other  women 
have  done  in  regard  to  their  husbands,  perceiving  his  indisposition, 
said  to  him,  "My  spouse,  I  am  under  extreme  obligations  for  your 
fidelity,  and  the  increasing  care  and  fatigue  you  have  imposed  upon 
yourself,  in  order,  by  the  sweat  of  your  brow,  to  maintain  me,  your 
servant,  and  my  adorable  Son.     You  will  receive  fr.)m  the  liberal 
hand  of  the  Most  High  the  recompense  for  your  pains,  and  the 
precious  benedictions  which  you  have  merited.     I  beg  you  to  cease 
from  this  incessant  labor,  and  repose  youi-self.     I  will  now  labor 
for  you,  in  testimony  of  my  gratitude,  as  long  as  the  Lord  shall 
give  us  life." 


m 


VJ 


^'i*«C«il«*«iMi««M.!to«fc,.,  ^^ 


^ 


102 


LIFE   OF   ST.   JOSEPH. 


[CUAP.  XVU. 


'\^ 


w 


>* 


fc^'i 


rf  ^^ 


B<t 


The  saint  listened  to  the  reasonings  of  liis  sweet  spouse  with  many 
toai-s ;  and,  although  he  assured  her  that  he  desired  to  continue 
his  toil,  he  yielded  to  her  solicitations,  believing  it  his  duty  to  obey 
her,  and  discontinued  his  laboi-s.  In  order  tc  have  nothing  super- 
fluous in  this  holy  family,  they  gave  away  his  tools  in  alms. 

St.  Joseph  being  thus  relieved  from  labor,  gave  himself  entirely 
for  the  rest  of  his  days  to  the  contemplation  of  the  mysteries  which 
he  had  nourished  in  his  breast,  and  to  the  practice  of  virtue.  He 
was  happy  in  these  occupations  to  find  himself  in  the  presence  and 
enjoyment  of  the  conversation  of  the  Incarnate  Wisdom  and  of  her 
who  was  His  Mother.  With  such  helps,  he  arrived  at  so  high  a 
degree  of  sanctity,  that  next  to  his  blessed  spouse,  who  was  always 
unique  among  mere  ci'eatures,  he  mrpassed  aU  men,  and  he  v)ill 
never  be  surpassed  by  any* 

Qui  august  Queen  and  her  divine  Son  assisted,  served,  and  con- 
soled him  in  his  maladies,  with  the  most  assiduous  care.  It  is  im- 
possible to  depict  the  humility,  respect,  and  love  which  these  char- 
itable cares  produced  in  the  r.incei-e  and  grateful  heart  of  the  servant 
of  God.  The  Blessed  Virgin  charged  herself  with  the  support  of 
her  most  holy  Son  and  be'-  spouse,  by  her  own  work.  The  Eternal 
Wisdom  so  disposed  it,  in  order  that  her  merits  and  virtues  might 
reach  the  highest  degree,  and  serve  as  an  example  to  put  the  child- 
ren of  Adam  to  shame. 

The  Lord  offers  this  strong  woman  to  us  as  an  example.  The 
heart  of  her  husband  trusteth  in  her,  and  not  only  that  of  her 
spouse  Joseph,  but  also  that  of  her  Son,  at  once  true  God  and  man, 
as  Solomon  declares  in  the  thirty-first  chapter  of  Proverbs.  Means 
were  not  wanting  to  the  Lord  to  support  the  corporeal  life  of  His 
blessed  Mother  and  St.  Joseph,  since  man  lives  not  by  bread  alone. 
He  could  have  miraculously  provided  for  them  every  day,  but  the 
world  would  have  been  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  witnessing  the 
industry  of  the  most  pure  Mother  of  God,  and  if  our  blessed  Lady 
had  not  acquired  these  merits,  she  would  have  failed  to  obtain  much 
of  her  reward. 

With  prudent  diligence  she  provided  for  all.     Neither  our  ador- 

*  Suarez  maintains  this  saino  doctrine  ex-projmo. 


fiirn^ 


aWe  Saviour  uor  His  Motl.er,  ate  flesh-nieat-tl.eir  food  consisted 
ot  fish,  fruits,  and  herb.,  and  th.y  partook  of  those  with  crreat 
moderatior  Onr  august  Lady,  nevertheless,  j,repared  meat  for 
bt.  Joseph,  and  served  it  in  the  manner  most  agreeable  to  him  It 
hnppened  sometimes,  that  her  labor  was  insufficient,  because  St 
Joseph  had  need  of  more  than  heretofore.  On  these  occasions  our 
Lord  exercised  His  power.  He  often  so  ordered  that  His  blessed 
Mother  accomplished  much  in  a  short  time,  so  that  her  work  multi- 
plied  itself  m  her  hands. 


yiv 


i»m 


ixs 


\  ml! 


I 


i 


StllMMtaMMiMMMli. 


^ 


104 


rTKE   OF   ST.  JOSKl'lF. 


[onAP.  XVIIl. 


St 


•c 


UWS: 


IT 


CHAFIER  XV  111. 

OF    THE    CARE  WHICH    THE    AUGUST    MAUY   AND    THE    DIVINE    JESUS    BESTOWED 
UPON   ST.  JOSEPH   IN  THE   INFIBMITIKS   OF   UlA   LATTEU   DATS. 

It  is .  a  common  mistake  to  regard  the  Lord  Jesus  only  as  Rt!- 
deemer,  and  not  as  a  master,  who  by  His  example  instructs  us  to 
suffer  afflictions.  And,  although  Catholics  do  not  fall  into  the  ni- 
senp.ite  eri-oi-s  of  the  heretics,  for  they  all  admit  that  without  good 
works,  and  without  afflictions,  there  is  neither  recompense  nor 
crown ;  yet  we  find  many  children  of  the  Holy  Church  who  ai-e 
scai'cely  to  be  distinguished  from  those  who  are  in  darkness,  since 
they  avoid  works  which  ar?  painful  to  them. 

Let  us  reject  this  manifest  error,  and  be  assured  that  sui- 
ferings  were  not  for  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  alone,  but  for  us 
also.  The  most  beloved  of  our  divine  Master  have  received  the 
greatest  share  of  the  cross.  Let  us  not  be  so  bold  as  to  say,  that 
if  the  Saviour  suffered  as  man,  He  is,  at  the  same  time,  God,  and 
hence  He  is,  to  human  weakness,  rather  a  subject  for  admiration 
than  cf  imitation.  The  Saviour  of  our  souls  overturns  this  excuse 
by  the  example  of  His  most  innocent  Mother  and  St.  Joseph,  and 
that  of  many  men  and  feeble  women  also. 

The  Lord  conducted  by  this  royal  road  of  suffering  the  spou&e 
of  His  blessed  Mother,  St.  Joseph,  whom  His  majesty  loved  above 
all  the  children  of  men.  To  increase  bis  merits  and  his  crown,  be- 
f(jre  his  power  of  gaining  merits  had  ceased,  the  Lord  bestowed  on 
him,  in  the  last  years  of  his  life,  certain  exceedingly  acute  maladies, 
which  caused  excessive  pain  throughout  his  body,  and  great  debil- 
ity. Besides  these,  there  was  another  mode  of  suffering,  moi-e 
gentle,  yet  very  distinct,  which  resulted  from  the  force  of  his  burn- 
ine  love.  This  love  was  so  vehement,  and  at  times  his  transports 
wore  so  impetuous,  that  his  pure  spirit  must  have  broken  the  chaiiisi 
tliat  bound  it  to  the  body,  if  the  same  Lord  had  not  given  him  the 
j)0wer  of  resisting  it.  His  majesty  made  him  sufl'er  this  sweet  vio- 
lence, because,  from  the  natural  fee])leness  of  a  body  so  attenu- 
ated this  painful  exercise  was  a  great  merit  for  the  saint,  not  only 


7==^ 


^||>.>V- 


>rJ* 


&i 


i' 


^' 


St 


CHAP,  xvin.] 


LWTC  OF   ST.  JOSEl'lI. 


105 


from  the  effects  of  the  pain  that  he  suffered,  but  from  the  cause 
which  was  love;  hence  he  acquired  incomparable  merits     Our 
blessed  Lady  had  knowledge  of  all  these  mysteries.    She  penetrated 
the  mterior  of  the  saint,  so  that  she  might  not  be  deprived  of  the 
joy  she  derived  from  the  conviction  of  having  a  spouse  so  holy  and 
so  beloved  of  the  Lord.     She  observed  the  candor  and  purity  of 
his  soul-his  ardent  affection,  his  lofty  and  divine  thoughts,  his 
patience  and  sweetness  in  his  maladies,  the  great  sufferings  that  he 
bore  without  a  complaint  or  sigh,  or  asking  any  solace.      Our 
great  patriarch  supported  all   hi^    paias  with  an  incomparable 
patience  and  magnanimity.    All  this  his  faithful  spouse  remarked 
ns  well  as  the  value  and  the  meiits  of  the  many  virtues  which  the 
saint  practised,  and  she  conceived  so  high  a  reverence  for  him  that 
we  will  not  attempt  to  express  it.    She  applied  herself,  with  the 
greatest  joy,  to  sustain  and  console  him.     As  she  had  little  ^^steein 
tor  what  she  did  heitielf  to  relieve  the  great  sufferings  of  her 
spouse,  and  because  of  the  love  she  bore  him,  she  commanded  the 
viands  that  she  prepared  for  her  holy  patient  to  give  him  strength 
and  re-establish  his  appetite,  since  this  was  to  oreserve  the  life  of 
the  saint— the  just— the  elect  of  the  Most  High. 

When  St.  Joseph  partook  of  this  food,  he  was  sensible  of  the 
sweet  benedictions  and  the  genial  effects  of  the  viands,  and  inquired 
of  his  spouse:  "What  aliments  of  life  are  these  which  vivify  me 
restoring  my  appetite  and  my  strength,  and  filling  me  with  new 
consolation  ?"    The  Queen  of  heaven  served  him  on  her  knees,  and 
when  his  pains  were  violent,  she  removed  his  sandals,  and  supported 
and  assisted  him  with  the  tenderest  affection.     Although  the  hum- 
ble saint  made  every  effort  to  hinder  his  spouse  from  taking  such 
unwearied  pains,  it  was  always  in  vain,  f<  r  our  sweet  Lady  under- 
stood  the  maladies  of  her  patient,  and  when  he  most  needed  help 
and  she  therefore  hastened  to  assist  hira,  in  all  his  wants,  with  the 
greatest  affection.    She  often  said  things  which  exceedingly  con- 
soled him.     During  the  three  last  yeai-s  of  his  life,  which  were 
those  of  his  greatest  suffering,  she  never  quitted  him,  day  or  night. 
If  for  a  moment  she  withdrew,  it  was  only  to  serve  her  divine  Son 
who  united  with  His  Mother  to  assist  the  holy  patriarch,  except 
when  He  was  necessarily  occupied  in  other  works;  so  we  may  say 


m 


^ 


^  t 

m 
g*M 


te- 


m) 


.'±^ 


\\ 


mm 


V'J^ 


/^ 


[oiiAP.  xvin 

eiice  we  may  learn 
Joseph,  for  lie 
jiloim  has  merited  to  have  her  for  his  spouse,  who  was  also  the 
spouse  of  the  Holy  Sjjirit.     The  charity  of  our  blessed  Lady  to 
wards  St.  Jo;  upu  u^a    not  satisfied  by  these  servicer  of  which  w(^ 
have  spol;,).,').     t"i-.    -trove  to  console  him  by  still  other  means. 
Soinetinu'fl  she  prayed  the  Lord,  with  the  most  ardent  charity,  to 
deliver  lier  spouse  from  his  suflferings,  and  to  inflict  them  upon  her- 
self    In  making  this  request,  she  believed  hei-self  to  deserve  the 
pains  of  all  creatures,  regarding  hei-self  as  the  least  of  all.     She 
alleged,  also,  the  holiness  >>!'  oK.  .iosejdi,  and  the  delight  which  the 
Lord  took  in  this  heart,  so  conformed  to  that  of  His  majesty.     She 
witnessed  the  sutferings  of  her  blessed  spouse,  and  had  rr>nipjission 
for  them  :  she  knew  his  merits,  and  the  pleasure  which  her  adorable 
Son  had  in  him.     She  rejoiced  in  the  patience  of  the  sainr,  and  mag- 
nified tlie  Lt)i'd.     Sometimes,  the  Queen  of  pity,  touched  by  the  ex- 
cruciating [)ains  of  hei'  spouse,  and  melted  by  tendei-est  sympathy, 
having  obtained  permission  from  her  divine  Son,  commanded  his 
sufferings,  and  their  natural  causes,  to  suspend  their  activity,  and 
cease  so  cruelly  to  aflSict  the-just  and  the  well-beloved  of  the  Lord. 
At  other  times,  she  prayed  the  saints  and  angels  t<>  console  her 
spouse,  and  to  strengthen  him  in  his  troubles,  when  the  weakness 
of  the  fragile  flesh  demanded  it.     By  this  species  of  commandment, 
the  blessed  spirits  appeared  to  the  holy  patient  in  the  human  foi-m, 
all  radiant  with  beauty  and  splendor,  and  conv^ersing  with  each 
i)^     other  of  God  and  His  infinite  peifections.     Occasionally  they  ehant- 
l"*     ed  celestial  music,  with  a  sweetness  that  suspended  his  bodily  pains, 
and  inflamed  his  pure  soul  with  divine  love.     The  man  of  God  had, 
besides,  for  his  greater  consolation,  a  particular  knowledge,  not 
only  I  )1"  all  these  favoi-s,  but  also  of  the  holiness  of  his  most  holy 
spouse,  of  the  love  that  she  bore  to  him,  of  the  interior  charity 
with  which  she  served  him,  and  others  of  the  excellences  of  this 
great  Queen   of  the  universe.     All  these  united  produced  such 
effects  upon  St.  Joseph,  and  er;  tbled  him  to  acquire  so  many  merits, 
that,  in  this  life,  it  is  not  possible  to  conceive  them.* 

°  M.  Olier,  who  hiw  wiittcii  khcIi  siililiiiie  (uiiros  on  St.  Josepli.  iiffirras  Umt  wo  tiuinot  know, 
liriu  IilIuw,  tilt;  mn\U  of  tho  gloriouH  St.  Jost^pli  ami  that  we  art-  iricupikble  of  coiicuiviiiK  tlicm. 
What  a  eulogy  l—M'inuscrijils  if  if.  Olier. 


h^. 


I 


CHAP.  XIX. J 


lilFK  OP  8T.  JOSEPH. 


i 


m 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PltKOIOUa   DEATH   OF   TIIK  (ILOniOUS   BT.  JOSRPir,  CAOSRD   PBINOTP  ,  M.Y   BY   PIVIN 
I.OVK.— UK    KXnUKS   IN    TIIK    AUM8    OK  TIIK  DIVINE    JK8U8,   A8SI8TKD    UY     IIIH 
ItLKSSKD   8P0USK,  THE  QUEEN   OP   tIKAVEN. 

Durimo  eight  years  St.  Josoph  had  been  exercised  by  pains  and 
miffei-ings,  and  his  generous  spirit  was  ever  more  and  more  purified 
in  the  cr-icible  of  patience  and  divine  love.  With  years  his  tor- 
tures increased,  his  strength  diminished.  Tlie  inevitaWe  term  of 
life,  at  which  we  pay  the  univeraal  tribute  of  death,  approached. 
Ilis  blessed  spouse  increined  her  devotion  and  her  cares  to  serve 
him  with  inviolable  fidelity. 

This  most  holy  Lady,  knowing,  through  her  infused  science  that 
the  last  hour  of  her  chaste  spouse  in  this  place  of  exile  was  very 
near,  went  to  find  her  adorable  Son,  and  sai<l  to  Him :  "  My  Lord 
and  my  God,  the  time  for  the  death  of  your  servant  Joseph,  which 
you  have  determined  by  an  eternal  will,  approaches.  I  beseecli 
you,  Lord,  by  your  infinite  goodness,  to  assist  him  in  this  hour,  so 
that  his  death  may  be  as  precious  to  you,  as  his  life  has  been  agi-ee- 
able.  Remember,  my  Son,  the  love  and  humility  of  your  servant 
-  his  merits— hi  1  virtues,  and  the  pains  he  has  taken  to  preserve 
your  life  and  mine." 

Our  Saviour  replied  to  her:  "My  Mother,  your  requests  are 
pleasing  to  mc,  and  the  merits  of  Joseph  are  in  my  houghts.  I 
will  now  assist  him,  and  I  vill  give  him  so  eminent  a  j)lace  among 
tilt'  princes  of  my  people,  tint  it  will  be  a  subject  of  admiration  for 
the  angels,  and  a  motive  tor  praises  to  them  and  to  men.  I  will 
not  do  foi-  any  nation  that  which  I  will  do  for  your  spouse."  Our 
august  Lady  returned  thanks  to  her  most  sweet  Son  for  this 
promise. 

^  During  the  nine  days  that  preceded  the  death  of  St.  Joseph,  the 
Son  and  the  Mother  \\'atched  by  him  day  and  night.  They  so 
ai-ranged  it  that  one  or  the  other  was  always  with  him.     During 


H' 


Mf 


':    I!- 


:?!. 


^i 


'^V'Ci.- 


108 


LlfE   OF   8T.  JOHXPB. 


V 

to- 


m) 


[OHAP.  XIX. 

these  nine  dfiya,  the  angels  chanted,  three  times  each  day,  by  the 
oominaiidni(!iit  of  the  Lord,  lu^h'stial  music  for  tlw.  holy  patient.  It 
wiw  e<im|)<wed  of  canticleH  of  praise  to  the  Moxt  High,  and  of  bene- 
dictions for  the  saint  himself;  and,  besides,  so  delicious  a  fragrance 
])ervaded  all  this  i)oor  habitation,  that  not  only  the  man  of  God 
was  fortified  and  cheered  by  it,  but  many  pei-sons  on  the  outside. 

A  day  before  his  death,  all  inflamed  with  divine  love  for  so  many 
benefits,  he  was  elevated  into  a  sublime  ecstasy,  which  continued 
twenty-four  houi-s,  the  Lord  preserving  his  strength  and  life  by  a 
miraculous  interposition.    In  this  ecstatic  state  he  clearly  beheld 
the  divine  Essence,  and  discovered  in  it,  without  a  veil,  that  which 
he  had  believed  by  faith,  either  in  the  incomprehensible  Divinity, 
or  in  the  mysteries  of  the  Incarnation  and  Redemption— the  Church 
Militant  and  the  sacraments  with  which  she  is  enriched.    The  Holy 
Trinity  destined  him  to  be  the  precursoi-  of  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ  to  the  saints  who  were  in  Limbo,  and  commanded  him  to 
announce  to  them  anew  their  redemption,  and  to  prepare  them  for 
the  visit  which  the  same  Loid  was  to  make  them  to  conduct  them 
to  eternal  felicity.     St.  Joseph  returned  from  this  ecstasy  radiant 
in  beauty,  his  soul  divinized  from  the  view  of  the  being  of  God. 
He  addressed  himself  to  his  spouse,  and  requested  her  benediction ; 
but  she  prayed  her  most  holy  Son  to  give  it,  which  His  divine 
Majesty  was  pleased  to  do.     Our  blessed  Lady,  having  knelt,  be- 
sought St.  Joseph  to  bless  her  as  her  spouse  and  head.    The  man 
of  God,  not  without  a  divine  impulse,  gave  his  benediction  to  his 
beloved  spouse  before  their  separation.     She  afterwards  kissed  the 
hand  with  which  he  had  blessed  her,  and  requested  him  to  salute 
for  her  the  saints  in  Limbo. 

The  most  humble  Joseph,  wishing  to  close  his  life  by  the  seal  of 
humility,  asked  pardon  of  his  holy  spouse  for  the  faults  which  he 
might  have  committed  in  her  service  as  a  feeble  man  of  earthly 
mould.  He  entreated  her  to  assist  him  in  this  last  hour,  and  to  in- 
tercede for  hira.  He  testified,  above  all,  his  gratitude  to  our  ador- 
able Saviour,  for  the  benefits  that  he  had  leccived  from  His  most 
liberal  hand  during  all  his  life,  and  particularly  in  this  sickness. 
Then  taking  leave  of  his  blessed  spouse,  he  said  to  her:  "You  are 
blessed  among  all  women,  and  chosen  above  all  creatures.     Let 


i 


^s^mm 


cr=^; 


OUAP.  X1X.J 


LIFE  or  8T.  JOSEI'lI. 


109 


HMgt'lM  and  men  pram  you.  L««t  all  nationH  know  and  exalt  your 
dignity.  Let  the  name  of  the  Most  High  through  you  bo  known, 
adored,  and  gloi-ificsd  in  all  future  ages,  aiid  eternally  praised  by  all 
the  blessed  Hpiritw,  for  having  created  you  so  pleiwing  m  His  eyes. 
I  truMt  to  meet  you  in  the  heavenly  land," 

After  thJH,  the  man  of  God  addressed  our  I»rd  Jesus  Christ,  and, 
wishing  to  speak  to  His  Majesty  with  profound  respect,  he  nuvdc 
every  effort  to  kneel  on  the  ground.  Hut  the  sweet  Jesus  appi-oach- 
iug,  received  him  in  His  arms,  and  the  saint,  supporting  his  head 
upon  His  bosom,  said :  "  My  Lord  and  my  God,  Son  of  the  Eternal 
Father,  Creator  and  Redeemer  of  the  world,  give  Thine  eternal 
benediction  to  Thy  servant,  who  is  the  work  of  Thy  hands.  Pardon 
the  faults  I  hava  committed  in  Thy  service  and  in  Thy  company. 
I  confess  Thee,  I  gloiify  Thee,  I  render  to  Thee,  with  a  contrite 
and  humble  heart,  eternal  thanks  for  having  chosen  me,  by  Thine 
ineH'able  goodness,  from  among  men  to  be  the  spouse  of  Thine  own 
Mother.  Grant,  Lord,  that  Thine  own  glory  may  be  the  theme  of 
my  gratitude  through  all  eternity." 

The  Redeemer  of  the  world  gave  him  His  benediction :  "  Rest  in 
l)ea«e,"  He  said :  "  the  grace  of  my  heavenly  Father,  and  mine,  be 
with  thee.  Proclaim  the  good  tidings  to  my  prophets  and  saints, 
who  await  thee  in  Paradise,  and  tell  them  that  their  redemption  is 
nigh."  As  our  beloved  Redeemer  pronounced  these  words,  the 
most  happy  Joseph  expired  in  His  arms,  and  His  divine  Majesty 
closed  his  eyes.  The  angels  chanted  the  sweetest  hymns  of  praise, 
and,  by  order  of  the  supreme  King,  they  conducted  this  most  holy 
soul  into  Paradise,  where  the  saints  recognized  him  as  the  reputed 
father  of  the  Redeemer  of  the  woi-ld,  and  His  greatly  beloved  one, 
»v'ho  merited  singular  veneration.  He  imparted  a  new  joy  to  this 
innumerable  assembly,  by  announcing  to  them,  according  to  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord  that  their  redemption  would  not  long 
be  delayed.  We  must  not  ».init  to  mention,  that  although  tne  pre- 
cious death  of  St.  Joseph  was  preceded  by  so  long  a  sickness,  and 
such  severe  sufferings,  these  were  not  the  chief  causes  of  it.  He 
might  have  lived  longer,  notwithstanding  these  maladies,  if  the 
effects  of  the  ardent  love  that  burned  in  his  chaste  bosom  had  not 
been  sujieradded  ;  for  this  happy  death  was  rather  a  triumph  of  love 


m\ 


Svs 


,.  ja..«i f  (iKtiln^iMi  I  ^_ 


MSmS 


110 


LIFE  OF  ST.  JOSEPH 


n 


4^ 


.^ 


I 


[chap.  XIX 

than  the  penalty  of  sin.  The  Lord  suspended  the  supernatural 
aid  by  wliich  He  had  preserved  the  strength  of  His  servant,  and 
hindered  the  violence  of  his  love  from  destroying  hira ;  and  this 
help  failing,  nature  was  vanquished.  This  victory  severed  the 
ties  that  detained  his  holy  soul  in  the  prison  of  the  body,  in  which 
consists  our  death.  Thus,  love  was  the  last  of  his  maladies,  and  it 
was  also  the  greatest  and  most  glorious,  since,  by  it,  death  is  the 
sleep  of  the  body,  and  the  principle  of  life. 

Our  blessed  Lady,  seeing  tliat  her  spouse  had  ceased  to  live,  pre- 
pared his  body  for  sepulture,  according  to  the  customary  usages. 
No  other  hands  than  hei-s,  and  those  of  the  angels  who  assisted  her, 
touched  him.  In  order  that  aU  should  be  comformable  to  the  in- 
comparable modesty  of  the  Virgin  Mother,  the  Lord  clothed  the 
body  of  St.  Joseph  in  »  celestial  splendor,  which  covered  it  in  such 
a  manner  that  the  face  only  was  visible,  and  thus  the  pure  spouse 
saw  not  the  rest  of  the  body  which  she  prepared  for  interment. 
Several  persons  were  attracted  to  the  house  by  the  sweet  fragrance 
that  exhaled  from  the  holy  corpse,  and,  seeing  it  so  beautiful,  and 
as  flex-ible  as  if  it  had  be-in  living,  they  were  greatly  astonished. 

The  body  of  St.  Joseph  was  carried  to  the  common  cemetery, 
followed  by  relatives,  friends,  and  othei-s,  and  by  the  Redeemer  of 
the  world  and  His  holy  Mother,  and  a  great  multitude  of  angels. 
Our  prudent  Lady  preserved  an  unalterable  dignity,  nor  did°she 
permit  her  interior  affliction  to  hinder  her  in  ordering  all  things 
necessary  for  the  interment  of  her  spouse,  or  the  service  of  her  Son. 
She  acquitted  hei-self  in  all  with  a  regal  magnanimity,  and,  at  the 
close,  she  gave  thanks  to  hei-  adorable  Son  for  the  favora  He  had 
bestowed  on  St.  Joseph-     Our  august  saint  was  one  of  tliose  who 
enjoyed  the  privilege  of  exemption  fi-om  the  sight  of  the  demons 
at  his  death,  because  these  spirits  of  darkness,  wishing  to  approach 
him,  werf^  sensible  that  a  powerful  force  arrested  them,  and  the 
angels  hurled  them  into  hell. 


tn  I  ^% 


\ 


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CHAPTER  XX. 

PKIVIIEGES  GRANTED  TO  ST.  JOSEPH.— HIS  BIRTH  ACCOMPANIED  BY  MIRACLES.— 
HIS  ADMIRABLE  VIRTUES.— THE  VIRTUES  WHICH  THE  MOST  HIGH  HAS  PROMISED 
TO  THOSE  DEVOTED  TO  HIM.— JESUS  RESUSCITATES  ST.  JOSEPH  AFTER  HIS  PAS- 
SION.—OUK   BLESSED   LADY    CELEBRATES  THE   FESTIVAL   OF   HER  ESPOUSALS. 

The  duration  of  the  life  of  this  happiest  of  men,  St.  Joseph,  was 
sixty  years  and  some  days.  He  espoused  the  Blessed  Mary  in  his 
thirty-third  year,  and  he  lived  a  little  more  than  twenty-seven 
years  in  her  society.  At  the  death  of  her  holy  spouse,  our  Lady 
was  nearly  forty-one  years  and  six  months  old.  She  felt  a  natural 
grief  at  his  death,  because  she  had  loved  him  as  her  spouse,  as  a 
very  great  saint,  and  her  protector  and  benefactor;  and.  although 
the  well-regulated  mind  of  our  admira})le  Lady  controlled  her  sor- 
row, it  wag.  not  the  less  profcmd.  The  moi-e  she  knew  of  the  high 
degree  of  sanctity  wliich  her  spouse  had  attained  among  the  gre°at 
saints,  whose  names  are  inscribed  in  the  Book  of  Life,  the  greater 
was  her  affection  foi-  him.  And,  since  we  cannot  lose  without  soi-- 
row  that  which  we  tcndei-ly  love,  we  cannot  doubt  that  the  grief 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  was  very  great,  when  we  measure  it  by  the 
love  she  bore  to  the  holy  patriarch. 

This  '3  not  the  place  to  treat,  particulai'ly,  of  the  excellence  of 
the  hol'ness  of  St.  Joseph,  for  I  have  no  order  to  imp-.rt,  more  than 
what  will  serve  generally  to  make  manifest  the  dignity  of  his  spouse, 
to  whose  merits  (after  those  of  her  divine  Son)  we  must  atti-ibnte 
the  gifts  and  graces  with  which  the  Most  High  favored  the  glorious 
patriarch.  And,  even  if  our  blessed  Lady  had  not  been  the  meri- 
torious cause,  or  the  instrument  of  the  sanctity  of  her  spouse,  she 
was,  at  least,  the  immediate  end  to  which  that  sanctity  referred. 
The  virtues  and  graces  which  the  Lord  communicated  to  His  ser- 
vant Joseph,  were  conferred  to  render  him  more  worthy  of  her 
whom  He  had  chosen  to  be  His  Mothei'.  It  is  by  this  rule,  and 
by  the  esteem  and  love  which  this  adorable  Lord  bore  to  His  most 


t;^ 


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LITE   OF  ST.   JOSEPH. 


[chap.  XX. 


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X 


mi 


pure  Mother,  that  the  sanctity  of  St.  Joseph  is  to  be  measured. 
Doubtless,  if  there  had  been  found  in  the  world  another  man  more 
perfect  and  more  excellent.  His  Majesty  would  have  made  him  the 
spouse  of  His  own  Mother ;  and  since  He  conferred  this  dignity 
upon  St.  Joseph,  it  must  be  granted,  without  contradiction  that  he 
was  the  greatest  saint  of  God  on  earth.  As  \  a  had  been  created 
for  such  an  exalted  purpose,  it  is  certr.in  that  it  was  with  the  design 
to  render  him  worthy  of  the  august  Mary,  and  to  propoi>tion  him, 
by  her  powerful  right,  to  these  same  ends.  This  proportion  was 
to  be  found  in  the  holiness,  the  virtues,  the  gifts  and  gi-aces,  natural 
or  infused,  which  he  so  eminently  possessed. 

I  observe  a  difference  between  this  great  saint  and  the  other 
saints,  in  the  gifts  of  grace  which  they  received.  There  have  been 
many  saints  -who  have  been  gifted  with  privileges,  all  of  which 
were  not  connected  with  their  own  sanctification,  but  had  regard 
to  other  objects  for  the  service  of  the  Most  High.  'They  were  gra- 
tuitous gifts,  or  apart  from  sanctity.  But  for  those  of  our  holy 
Patriarch,  all  the  gifts  that  he  received,  augmented  in  him  the  vir- 
tues, and  his  inteiior  sanctification.  The  ministvy  with  which  they 
were  connected  was  a  consequence  of  his  holiness  and  his  good 
works,  for  the  more  holy  he  was,  the  more  worthy  was  he  to  be 
the  spouse  of  the  august  Mary,  and  the  depositary  of  the  treasure 
and  the  raysteiy  of  heaven.  He  ought  to  have  been,  as  he  was,  in 
reality,  a  prodigy  of  holiness^  and,  by  the  special  providence  of  God, 
he  was  sanctified  at  his  birth.  His  nature  was  in  just  proportions 
— his  qualities  excellent — his  complexion  perfect,  and  to  these  were 
superadded  purity  of  soul  and  right  inclinations.  In  him  the  con- 
cupiscence of  the  flesh  found  itself  enchained,  so  that  no  inoidinate 
inclinations  could  gain  the  mastery.  Although  he  had  not  the  use 
of  reason  at  his  first  sanctification,  in  which  he  was  justified  only 
from  original  sin,  his  Mother  was  sensible  of  a  new  joy  in  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and,  without  fully  penetrating  the  mystery,  she  performed 
great  acts  of  virtue,  and  believed  that  her  child  vvould  become 
great  befoi'o  God  and  man. 

St.  Joseph,  as  we  have  said,  was  born  beautiful  and  most  perfect 
by  natpie.  He  brought  to  his  purenta  an  extraordinary  joy,  1  ko 
that  at  the  birth  of  the  little  Baptist,  although  the  cause  of  it  w.iS 


J 


P 


^,    CHAP.  XX.] 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH 


I. 


less  manifest.  The  Lord  advanced  him  in  the  use  of  reason,  and 
gave  it  to  him  in  all  its  perfection,  in  the  third  year  of  his  age. 
He  communicated  to  him,  also,  an  infused  science,  and  a  new  aug- 
mentation of  grace  an  J  virtue.  The  holy  child  began,  henceforth, 
to  know  God  by  faith ;  he  knew  Him  also  by  natural  reason,  as 
tlie  primal  cause  and  author  of  all  creatures,  and  he  coraprehendeil, 
V*  Ml  a  most  sublime  conception,  all  that  was  said  of  God  and  His 
wi.'ks. 

He  had,  at  the  same  time,  the  power  of  elevated  contemplation, 
and  he  practised  the  virtues  admirably,  iu  proportion  to  his  tender 
yeai-8.  The  use  of  reason  dates  with  children  usually  about  or 
after  their  seventh  year.  Si.  Joseph,  in  his  third  year,  was  already 
in  liis  reasoning  faculty,  a  perfect  man,  and  in  holiness  also.  He 
was  of  a  sweet  d^'sposition,  charitable,  kind,  and  sincere.  In  all 
things  he  gave  evit'-nce  of  holy  and  angelic  inclinations,  and,  grow- 
ing in  age  and  in  perfection,  1  e  attained,  hy  a  most  holy  life,  the 
age  at  which  he  espoused  the  most  Blessed  Mary. 

Then  to  augment  for  him  the  gifts  of  grace,  and  to  confirm  him 
ill  these  gifts,  our  blessed  Lady  aided  him  by  her  prayere.  She 
earnestly  suppliciit*>d  the  Most  High,  that  if  He  comraanoed  her  to 
enter  the  marriage  state.  He  would  sanctify  her  spouse  Joseph,  so 
that  he  should  conform  himself  to  her  chaste  desires.  This  august 
Lady  knew  that  God  W(/uld  be  gracious  to  her  prayers,  and  that 
He  would  operate  in  the  soiil  of  the  holy  Patiiarch  effects  divine 
and  beycmd  expression.  He  imbued  him  with  the  perfect  fulness 
of  all  the  virtues  and  all  the  gifts. 

His  divine  Majesty  perfected  anew  all  his  faculties.  In  the  vir- 
tue of  chastity  he  was  more  elevated  than  the  highest  seraphim,  be- 
cause,  inhabiting  a  body,  mortal  and  earthly,  he  possessed  a  purity 
equal  to  theirs— they  being  disengaged  from  matter.  There  never 
even  entered  into  his  thoughts  any  image  in  the  slightest  degree 
iin[)ure,  or  of  an  animal  or  sensual  nature.  By  this  perfection,  and 
by  his  angelic  integrity,  he  was  {)iepared  tu  be  the  spouse  of  the 
purest  of  creatures,  and  to  live  in  her  society.  Without  this 
-rivilege  he  could  not  have  been  capable  of  arriving  at  so  great 
>  I  excellent  a  dignity. 
Equally  admirable  in  the  other  virtues,  especially  in  divine  love, 


'•  *      <iV. 


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s, 


LIFE   OF   ST.  JOSEPH. 


[OIIAP.  XX. 

he  was  like  one  who  finds  hiraself  at  the  fountain,  and  leplenishes 
himself  with  that  living  water  which  conducts  to  eternal  life,  or  as 
an  inflammable  substance  near  the  sphere  of  the  sacred  fire,  that 
kindles  without  resistance.  All  that  can  be  said  in  the  most  exalt- 
ed praise  of  this  loving  spouse,  has  been  already  expressed,  when 
it  wa.s  recorded  that  the  love  of  God  was  the  cause  of  his  sickness, 
and  the  instrument  of  his  death.  The  sweet  pains  of  love  surpass- 
ed those  of  nature,  and  these  were  less  active  than  the  first.  As 
the  objects  of  his  love,  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  His  Mother,  were 
present,  and  since  the  saint  possessed  them  in  a  closer  union  than 
iuiy  other  mortal  could  ap])roacli,  it  was  inevitable  that  this  most 
faithful  and  candid  heart  nmst  exhale  itself  in  the  affections  of  a 
love  so  constituted. 

Blessed  be  the  author  of  such  great  wondera,  and  blessed  be  the 
happiest  of  men,  St.  Joseph,  in  whom  they  were  all  most  worthily 
wioiiG^ht!  He  merits  that  all  nations  should  know  and  bless  him, 
since  the  Lord  has  not  honored  any  other  among  mortals,  nor  ever 
manifested  ';o  much  love  foi-  any  as  for  him. 

In  the  course  of  this  history,  I  have  said  something  of  the  visions 
and  i-evelations  with  which  our  saint  was  favored.  It  is  ceitain  that 
lie  liad  many  more  than  we  can  relate ;  but  we  may  imagine  gi-eat 
things  if  we  consider  that  he  was  made  acquainted  with  the  mys- 
teiies  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  of  His  most  holy  Mother — that 
Ik'  lived  so  long  in  close  association  with  them,  that  he  wivs  regai-d- 
ed  as  the  Father  of  this  divine  Saviour,  and  was  truly  the  spouse 
of  our  blessed  Lady. 

Besides  all  this,  I  have  discovered  that  the  Most  High  accorded 
to  hiui,  because  of  his  great  sanctity,  certain  privileges  in  favor  of 
those  who  choose  him  for  their  intercessor,  and  who  invoke  him 
with  devotion.  The  first  is,  to  obtain  the  virtue  of  chastity,  and 
♦o  be  withdrawn  from  the  danger  of  losing  it;  the  second,  to  receive 
powerful  assistance  to  be  freed  from  sin  and  to  recover  the  grace 
of  God  ;  the  third,  to  ac(piire,  by  his  means,  devotion  for  our  blessed 
Lady,  and  dispositions  to  receive  her  favors;  the  fourth,  to  obtain 
a  happy  death  and  a  special  protection  against  the  demons  at  that 
last  hour;  tlu^  fifth,  to  intimidate  tlie  enemies  of  our  salvation  by 
pronouncing  the  name  of  St.  Joseph  ;  i\w,  sixth,  to  obtain  health  of 


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h%^,. 


OHAP.  XX.] 


LIFE   OF  ST,  JOSEPIL 


^ 


body  and  consolation  in  affliction ;  the  seventh  privilege,  to  have, 
hy  his  intercession,  successore  in  families. 

God  grants  all  these  favoi-s,  and  many  more  to  those  who  ask  fur 
thorn  as  they  ought,  in  the  name  of  St.  Joseph,  spouse  of  the  Bless- 
ed Virgin;  and  I  entreat  all  the  faithful  children  of  the  Holy 
Church  to  have  a  great  devotion  for  this  great  saint,  and  to  be  per- 
suaded that  they  will  become  sensible  of  the  favorable  effects  of 
liis  protection,  if  they  will  dispose  themselves  worthily  to  merit 
and  to  receive  them. 


Our  Lord  arose  from  the  sepulchre  after  His  passion  and  death, 
invested  with  beauty  and  glory,  as  the  prophets  had  announced. 
Fiuding  himself  with  the  saints  and  prophets  whom  He  had  re- 
lieved from  prison.  He  promised  to  all  the  human  race,  the  uni- 
versal resurrection  of  the  dead  as  a  consequence  of  His  own  glorious 
resurrection,  in  the  same  flesh  and  in  the  same  body,  each  in  his 
own ;  and,  as  a  pledge  of  this  promise.  His  divine  Majesty  com- 
manded the  souls  of  many  saints  to  reunite  with  their  bodies,  and 
be  raised  to  an  immortal  life.  These  bodies  arose,  as  Saint  Mat- 
tliow  records  in  his  Gospel,  and  among  them  were  those  of  St. 
Antie,  St.  Joseph,  and  St.  Joachim:  the  others  were  ancient  Fathers 
and  Patriarchs. 

Our  blessed  Lady  was  careful  every  year  on  the  festival  of  her 
most  holy  and  chaste  spouse  St.  Joseph,  to  celebrate  the  espousals, 
through  which  the  Lord  had  given  him  to  be  her  faithful  com- 
panion, in  order  to  conceal  the  mysteries  of  the  Incarnation  of  the 
Word,  and  to  execute  with  the  highest  wisdom  the  secrets  and  tlie 
works  of  the  redemption  of  the  human  race.  And  as  all  these 
works  of  the  Most  High  were  as  a  deposit  in  the  most  prudent 
lieart  of  Mary,  and  as  she  kept  this  festival  as  a  mark  of  her  higli 
esteem  for  him,  the  joy  and  gratitude  with  which  she  celebrated 
his  memoiy  were  ineffable. 

Her  most  holy  spouse  Joseph  descended  at  the  festival  all  radiant 
with  gh)ry,  accompanied  by  innumei-able  angels,  who  solemnized 
It  with  great  joy  in  chanting  new  hymns,  which  were  composed  by 


Y 


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"^i 


iWIMlUK»«iaik.UMaWilM 


,«'*!? 


fell-''. 


[OIIAP.  XX. 


LIFE   OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 

our  most  blessed  Lftdy,  in  gratitude  for  the  benefits  which  lier 
spouse  and  hei-self  had  received  from  the  iiand  of  the  Most  High. 

After  having  thus  employed  several  houi-s,  she  discoui-sed  a  part 
of  the  day  with  her  glorious  spouse,  on  the  divine  attributes  and 
pei'feetions ;  for,  in  the  absence  of  the  Lord,  these  were  the  occu- 
pations that  best  pleased  His  gentle  Mother.  A  little  before  taking 
leave  of  the  holy  spouse,  she  entreated  him  to  pray  for  her,  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  to  praise  Him  in  her  name ;  she  also  requested 
liim  to  offer  prayers  for  the  Holy  Church  and  the  Apostles.  She 
asked  his  benediction,  and  the  glorious  saint  returned  to  heaven. 


m 


% 


CONTENTS. 


i 


ApPKO«ATI0N8 

To  THE  Divine  IIeakt  of  Jesuh,  and  to  Mary  Immaculate, 


CIIAriER  I. 
Espousals  of  tho  cliasto  St.  Josopli  with  the  Blessed  Virgin.— Various  C 
stances  which  accornjianicd  this  niystorious  Marriage 


CIIAITER  II. 
The  glorious  St.  Joscpli,  considered  in  all  tlie  Circumstances  that  concern  the 
Mystery  of  tho  Visitation  of  tho  Blessed  Virgin,  his  Wife 


CIIAriER  III. 
St.  Joseph  discovers  that  Mary  is  about  to  become  a  Mother,  without  being  able 
to  penetrate  tho  Mystery,— He  endures  ^.  oat  suffering  on  this  account 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Suspicions  of  St.  Joseph  increase,  and  he  resolves  to  leave  his  Spouse.— Tho 
Angel  of  the  Lord  declares  to  him  tho  Mystery  of  the  Incarnation 

CIIAFTER  V. 
St.  Joseph  asks  pardon  of  the  Holy  Mary  his  Spouse.— Ho  resolves  to  servo  her 
in  all  things  with  profound  respect 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Mode  of  life  of  tho  August  Mary  and  St.  Joseph.— Conversations  between  them, 


and  other  remarkable  circumstances. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Prcpaiations  for  the  Birth  of  the  Infant  Jesus.— Edict  of  Augustus.- The  Blessed 
Mary  and  St.  Joseph  go  to  Bethlehem 

CHAPTER  VIH. 

Arrival  at  Betlilehcm.— Birth  of  Jesus  in  a  grotto.— St.  Joseph  is  present  at  this 
Mystery 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Sentiments  of  the  August  Mother  and  St.  Joseph  for  the  Infant  God.— The  Cir- 
cumcision.— The  Spouses  give  Him  the  name  of  Jesus . 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  royal  Magi  come  to  adcre  the  Infant  God  in  the  Grotto  of  the  Nativity.— 
St.  Joseph  is  present  at  this  Mystery  , 


!!>! 


\   . 


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I  fi^ii 


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.IW 


1 '  8  CONTENTS. 

CIIAPTEli  XI.  ,^„, 

Our  Lilly  and  f?t.  J,  •■opli  !ohvo  tlio  Grotto  of  tlio  Nativity,  and  remain  ii'  T^eth- 

lohoni  nntil  tins  TroBentation  of  the  Infant  Jesua  in  tlio  Tonipio fio 

CHAFrER  XII. 
Tho  Ijord  prepares  onr  BIcsand  Lady  for  the  Flight  into  Egypt.— The  ,  ngcl 

reveals  it  to  St.  Joseph.     Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph  coinmenco  tho  journey..     75 

ClIAl'TEH  XIII. 
Tho  Holy  Family  arrive  at  llcliopolis,— Thoy  fix  thoir  rosidcnco  in  that  city  ...     81 

CIIArXEll  XIV. 
Tiio  Infant  Jesus  speaks  to  St.  Joseph  a  year  after  IHh  birth.— A  wording  to  the 

will  of  tho  Most  High,  tho  Holy  Family  return  from  Egypt  to  Nazareth. . .     87 

CUArXEll  XV 
Sojourn  at  Nazareth.— Tho  Blessed  Mary  and  81.  Joseph  go  every  year  to 
Jerusalem.- At  tho  age  of  twelve,  Jesus  remains  at  tho  Temple,  without 
tho  knowledge  of  His  parents q2 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  August  Mary  and  St.  Josc[ih  discover  the  Infant  in  the  Temple  among  tho 

Doctors. — Return  to  Nazaroth 97 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
St.  Joseph  is  no  longer  able  to  work.— Conduct  of  tho  August  Mary  and  tho 
Divine  Jesus,  during  more  than  eight  years  that  the  holy  Patriarch  lived  in 
sickness  and  infirmities jqj 

CHACTER  XVIII. 
Of  the  care  which  tho  August  Mary  and  tho  Divine  Jesus  bestowed  upon  St. 

Joseph  in  the  infirmities  of  his  latter  days io4 

CHAPTER  XrX. 
Precious  Death  of  tho  gl  -,rions  St.  Joseph,  caused  principally  by  Divine  Love.— 
He  expires  in  the  arms  of  the  Divine  Jesus,  assisted  by  his  blessed  Spouse, 
the  Queen  of  Heaven ■^q>j 

CHAPTER  XX. 
Privileges  granted  to  St.  Joseph. — His  birtli  accompanied  by  miracles. — His 
admirable  virtues. — The  virtues  which  the   Most  High  has  promised  to 

those  devoted  to  him.— Jesus  resuscitates  St.  Joseph  after  His  Passion. 

Our  Blessed  Lady  celebrates  the  Festival  of  her  Espousals H] 


i 


TJVES  OF  ST.  JOACHIM  AND  ST.  ANNE. 


Y 
te 


DUT  little  is  known  in  this  age  of  the  world  concerning  the 
I  iff'iits  of  Mary,  the  mother  of  God.    It  has  i)leased  Almighty 
God  to  leave  the  lives  of  those  illustrious  pereons  shrouded  in  an 
iraperi'  h-able  veil  of  mystery.     Nor  is  this  to  bo  wondered  at, 
when  we  remembci-  that  the  same  silence,  or  nearly  so,  is  observed 
in  the  Sacred  Scriptures   vith  regard  to  their  immaculate  daughter, 
tke  mother  of  the  (md-miu,.     All  of  Mary's  life  that  the  inspired 
writei-s  have  left  on  record  only  serves  to  indicate  rather  than 
describe  the  mirncul-.r,  ch.-iracter  whicli  distinguished  it  from  all< 
other  biographies  of  th.;  children  of  men.     So  it  is  with  the  lives 
of  her  holy  parents,  St.  Joachim  and  St.  Anne.     Little  more  is 
found  in  Scripture  concerning  them  than  the  mention  of  their 
names  in  the  genealogy  of  our  divine  Saviour,  and  the  simple 
record  of  the  eminent  dignity  to  wliich  they  were  called.     And 
yet  how  clearly  they  stand  before  us,  enshrouded  as  they  are  in 
the  sublime  mystery  of  'heir  exalted  state !     How  clearly  do  they 
stand  out  from  all  the  other  sons  and  daughtei-s  of  the  patriarchs, 
illumined  with  the  reflected  light  nf  the  divine  maternity  that  was 
to  form  their  daughter's  crown  in  time  and  in  eternitv ! 

Ihe  posterity  of  Adam  spread  abroad  in  great  numbei-s,  and, 
going  out,  the  just  and  the  unjust  multiplied  exceedingly;  and  the 
saints  redoubled  their  cries  and  supplications  for  the  coming  of  the 
Redeemer,  while  the  wicked,  by  their  crimes,  rendered  themselves 
unfit  for  receiving  such  a  favor.  The  people  of  God,  and  the 
triumph  of  the  Woi-d  who  was  to  become  incarnate,  had  already 
reached  the  term  decreed  by  the  divine  will  for  the  coming  of  the 


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LIVES   OF  ST.  JOAOmM    AND   ST.  ANNE. 

Messiah ;  the  reign  of  sin  had  so  enslaved  the  children  of  wrath 
that  their  wickedness  knew  no  bounds,  and  hence  it  was  that  the 
fitting  time  for  the  remedy  had  come.  The  just  by  increasing 
their  merits  had  increased  the  glory  of  their  crowns ;  the  prophets 
and  patriarchs  knew,  by  the  extraordinaiy  joy  arising  from  the 
divine  light,  that  the  salvation  of  their  Deliverer  and  His  awful 
presence  were  at  hand ;  and  redoubling  the  fervor  of  their  pray- 
ers, begged  of  God  that  the  prophecies,  and  the  promises  He  had 
made  to  His  people,  might  be  accomplished.  And  they  repre- 
sented before  the  throne  of  divine  mercy  the  long  and  heavy  night 
of  sin  in  which  they  had  lived  from  the  fall  of  our  fii-st  parents, 
and  the  darkness  of  idolatry  in  which  all  the  rest  of  mankind  lay, 

buried.* 

When  the  old  serpent  had  infected  all  the  universe  by  his 
poisonous  breath,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  undisputed  possession  of 
mortals;  when  themselves,  departing  from  the  natural  light  of 
reason,  and  that  which  the  old  law  had  written  on  their  heai-ts^f 
instead  of  seeking  the  true  Divinity,  set  up  many  false  ones,  with- 
out reflecting  that  the  confusion  arising  from  so  many  gods  was 
'contrary  to  perfection,  good  order,  and  Iranqaillity  of  soul ;  when 
by  these  errors,  malice,  ignorance,  and  forgetfulness  of  the  true 
God  had  already  prevailed,  and  that  mortal  languor  or  lethargy 
which  benumbed  the  world  was  so  much  neglected,  that  the  blind 
and  miserable  victims  did  not  even  open  their  mouth  to  ask  for  a 
remedy ;  when  i»ride  sat  enthroned,  and  the  number  of  fools  was 
infinite, J  and  the  proud  Lucifer  would  fain  drink  tip  the  purest 
waters  of  the  Jordan  ;§  when  God  was  most  offended  by  all  these 
insults  and  least  honored  by  men,  and  when  the  attribute  of  His 
justice  had  most  cause  to  reduce  all  created  things  to  their  original 

nothing : 

Such  was  the  moment  when  the  Most  High  (according  to  our 
ideas)  turned  His  eyes  on  the  attribute  of  His  mercy,  and  made  the 
law  of  clemency  weigh  down  the  balance  of  His  incomprehensible 
justice,  choosing  to  be  more  softened  by  His  own  goodness,  and  by 
the  cries  and  the  faithful  service  of  the  just  and  the  prophets  of 


1 


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P 


y^^ 


IV' 


LIVES   OF  ST,  JOACHIM   AND   ST.  ANNE.  ''.21 

His  people,  than  exasperated  by  the  manifold  oflfences  and  perverse 
ways  of  all  sinners.  He  determined  then  to  give,  even  in  that 
dreary  night  of  the  old  law,  some  assured  pledges  of  the  day  of 
grace,  sending  into  the  world  two  radiant  lights,  to  announce  the 
coming  dawn  of  the  Sun  of  Justice,  Christ  our  Saviour.  These 
two  lights  were  St.  Joachim  and  St.  Anne,  whom  the  divine  will 
had  prepared  and  created  that  they  might  be  according  to  His 
own  heart.  St.  Joachim  had  his  house,  his  family,  and  his  parents, 
at  Nazareth,  a  small  town  of  Galilee.  He  was  always  just  and 
holy,  guided  by  a  special  grace  and  a  heavenly  light.  He  pene- 
trated several  mysteries  of  Holy  Wiit  and  predictions  of  the  ancient 
prophets,  and  by  fervent  and  unceasing  prayer  begged  of  God  the 
fulfilment  of  his  promises ;  and  his  faith  and  his  charity  penetrated 
the  heavens.  He  was  very  humble  in  himself,  pure,  and  of  great 
candor  and  simplicity,  and  holy  in  all  his  ways;  a  graVe  and 
serious  man,  of  incomparable  meekness  and  modesty. 

St.  Anne  had  her  home  in  Bethlehem.  She  was  a  maiden  fair, 
chaste,  and  humble ;  and  from  her  childhood,  holy,  modest,  and 
endowed  with  every  virtue.  She  was  ako  favored  with  frequent 
inspirations  from  on  high ;  she  was  ever  occupied  in  the  contem- 
plation of  things  divine,  without  neglecting  her  household  affairs, 
in  which  she  was  most  assiduous.  By  these  holy  occupations  she 
attained  the  highest  perfection  of  both  the  active  and  contem- 
plative life.  She  had  an  infused  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
and  a  profound  understanding  of  their  hidden  mysteries ;  she  was 
incomparable  in  the  infused  virtues  of  faith,  hope,  and  charity. 
Filled  with  these  gifts,  she  prayed  continually  for  the  speedy 
coming  of  the  Messiah ;  and  her  prayera  were  so  agreeable  to  the 
Lord,  that,  like  the  spouse  in  the  Canticle,  she  merited  the  response 
of  having  wounded  His  heart,*  and  hastened  that  happy  time ;  for, 
without  doubt,  the  merits  of  St.  Anne  contributed  no  little  to 
anticipate  the  advent  of  the  Word,  holding,  as  she  did,  the  high- 
est place  among  the  saints  of  the  Old  Testament. 

This  strong  woman  also  prayed  fervently  that  the  Most  High 
would  vouchsafe  to  give  her  in  marriage  a  spouse  who  would  assist 


Canticle  of  Canticles,  iv.  9. 


J* 


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V 


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Crt-x 


her  to  keep  the  divine  law  and  become  more  perfect  in  the  observance 
of  its  precepts.  While  St.  Anne  was  thus  supplicating  the  Lord, 
His  divine  piovidence  decreed  that  St.  Joachim  prayed  in  like 
manner,  to  the  end  that  both  petitions  might  be  presented  together 
before  the  tribunal  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  where  they  were  heard 
and  accepted.  It  was  forthwith  appointed  by  a  divine  ordinance, 
that  Joachira  and  Anne  should  be  united  in  marriage,  and  become 
the  parents  of  her  who  was  to  be  mother  of  the  Incarnate  God. 
Il/z^^i  For  tlie  execution  of  this  decree  the  holy  archangel  Gabriel  was 
sent  to  make  it  known  to  each.  He  appeared  in  corporal  form  to 
St.  Anne  when  she  was  in  fervent  prayer,  petitioning  for  the  coming 
of  the  world's  Redeemer,  the  Salvation  of  mankind.  She  saw  this 
celestial  prince  so  radiant  in  glory  and  in  beauty  that  she  was 
troubled  with  a  holy  fear,  accompanied,  however,  by  an  interior 
joy  which  his  presence  caused  hei*  by  reason  of  the  lights  which 
he  communicated  to  her  soul.  The  saint  prostrated  hei-self  with 
profound  humility  to  honor  the  ambassador  of  heaven;  but  he 
prevented  her  from  so  huaibling  herself,  and  encouraged  her  as 
one  who  was  to  be  the  ark  of  the  true  manna,  the  thrice-blessed 
Mary,  mother  of  tlie  Eternal  Word ;  for  the  Lord  had  revealed 
that  hidden  mystery  to  the  holy  archangel,  when  He  sent  him  on 
this  emljassy ;  although  the  other  angels  of  heaven  did  not  yet 
penetrate  it,  because  this  revelation  or  illumination  was  made 
^^  immediately  by  the  Lord  himself  to  the  archangel  Gabriel  only, 
and  neither  did  the  archangel  reveal  it  then  to  St.  Anne;  but 
having  demanded  her  attention,  he  said  to  her:  "Handmaid  of 
the  Lord,  may  the  Most  High  bless  you  and  be  your  salvation. 
His  divine  Majesty  hath  heard  your  prayei-s,  it  is  His  will  that  you 
should  persevere  in  asking  the  coming  of  the  Redeemer,  and  He 
decrees  that  you  should  receive  Joachira  for  your  spouse ;  he  is  a 
just  man,  and  hath  found  ftivor  before  God,  and  you  may  go  on 
with  him  in  the  observance  of  His  divine  law  and  His  holy  service. 
Continue  your  prayei's  and  supplications,  and  have  no  other  care, 
for  the  same  Lord  will  decree  the  accomplishment  of  your  desire. 
Walk  in  the  narrow  way  of  justice,  raise  your  heart  and  mind  to 
the  things  .'  heaven,  pray  always  for  the  coming  of  the  .Messiali, 
and  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  who  is  thy  salvation."     Thereupon,  the 


t 


'n 


LIVES   OF  ST.  JOACHIM   AND   ST.  ANNE. 


123 


s,^£y^^ 


angel  disappeared,  having  left  St.  Anne  much  inward  light  for  the 
penetration  of  various  mysteries  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  filled  her 
soul  with  consolation,  and  renewed  the  fervor  of  her  spirit. 

The  archangel  neithei-  appeared  nor  spoke  to  St.  Joachim  in 
corporal  foi-m  as  he  did  to  St.  Anne ;  but  the  man  of  God  heard 
himself  thus  addressed  in  a  dream:  "Joachim,  blessed  be  thou 
among  men  ;  persevere  in  thy  desires,  and  practise  justice  and  per- 
fection. It  is  the  will  of  God  that  thou  receive  Anne  for  thy 
spouse,  for  the  Almighty  hath  filled  her  soul  with  benedictions. 
Have  care  of  her,  and  regard  her  as  a  precious  gift  from  His  boun- 
tiful  hand,  and  thank  His  divine  Majesty  for  having  confided  her 
to  thee."  In  virtue  of  this  divine  embassy,  Joachim  demanded  the 
most  chaste  Anne  for  a  wife,  and  the  marriage  ^ras  celebrated,  in 
accordance  with  the  will  of  God,  but  yet  without  either  party 
disclosing  their  secret  to  the  other,  until  some  yeai-s  had  passed,  as 
will  be  seen  in  its  own  place.  The  holy  spouses  dwelt'  at  Nazareth, 
and  there  walked  in  the  ways  of  God.  They  i-endered  themselves 
pleasing  to  the  Most  High,  and  were  irreproachable  in  His  sight, 
because  of  the  plenitude  of  grace  that  made  all  their  works  perfect. 
They,  every  year,  divided  tneir  revenue  into  three  parts.  The 
firat  they  offered  in  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  for  the  worship  of 
the  Lord ;  the  second  they  distributed  to  the  poor,  reserving  the 
third  for  the  proper  maintenance  of  their  family.  God  increased 
their  temporal  goods,  because  they  employed  them  with  much 
charity  and  liberality. 

Peace  was  inviolable  between  them  ;  they  lived  in  perfect  cou- 
formity  one  with  the  other,  without  noise  or  disturbance  of  any 
kind.  The  most  humble  Anne  was  submissive  in  all  things  to  the 
will  of  Joachim ;  and  the  man  of  God  was  ever  eager  to  anticipate 
the  wishes  of  St.  Anne,  nor  was  it  in  vain  that  he  trusted  himself 
entirely  to  her  guidance.*  In  such  perfect  charity  did  they  live, 
that  all  their  life  long  they  had  but  one  and  the  same  will.  Being 
united  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,f  His  holy  fear  never  abandoned 
them :  St.  Joachim  never  failing  to  obey  the  command  of  the  angel 
to  honor  and  cherish  his  wife. 


*  Prov.  xxxi.  11. 


t  Mbtt.  xviii.  20 


!5f 


f^L 


:^\jr:y^ 


124 


LIVES   OF   ST.  JOACHIM    AND   ST.  ANWE. 


The  Lord  prevented  the  venerable  St.  Anne  with  blessings  of 
sweetness  *  communicating  to  her  the  most  sublime  gifts  of  grace 
and  of  infused  science,  to  prepare  her  for  the  great  happiness  she 
was  to  enjoy,  in  being  the  mother  of  her  who  was  to  bring  forth 
that  same  Lord.  And  as  the  works  of  the  Most  High  are  perfect 
and  complete.  He,  consequently,  made  her  the  worthy  mother  of 
the  most  perfect  of  creatures,  who  was  to  be  inferior  to  God  alone 
in  sanctity,  and  superior  to  all  pure  creatures. 

These  holy  spouses  passed  twenty  years  without  having  a  child, 
which  at  that  time,  and  among  that  people,  was  considered  a  great 
shame ;  thence  it  happened  that  they  were  often  assailed  by  the 
taunts  and  reproaches  of  their  neighbor ;  for  it  was  thought  that 
those  who  had  no  children  had  no  part  in  the  coming  of  the 
expected  Messiah.  But  the  Most  High  chose  to  afflict  them  in 
this  way  in  order  to  dispose  them  by  so  great  a  humiliation  for 
the  extraordinary  grace  he  meant  to  bestow  upon  them,  and  gave 
them  the  patience  necessary  to  conform  implicitly  to  His  divine 
will  to  the  end,  that  they  might  sow  in  tears  and  in  prayers  the 
blessed  fi-uit  they  were  one  day  to  reap.f  They  begged  it  from 
the  depth  of  their  hearts,  agreeably  to  the  express  command  of 
Heaven ;  and  they  made  a  particular  vow  to  the  Lord,  that,  if  He 
gave  them  a  child,  they  would  offer  it  in  the  Temple,  and  conse- 
crate it  to  His  service  as  the  fruit  of  His  benediction. 

This  vow  was  made  by  the  particular  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  who  ordained  it  so  that  she  who  was  to  serve  as  a  dwelling 
for  the  only  Son  of  the  Father,  should  be  offered,  and  as  it  were, 
made  over  by  her  own  parents,  to  the  same  Lord  before  she 
received  being.  For  if  they  had  not  bound  themselves  by  a 
special  vow  to  offer  her  in  the  Temple  before  they  had  ^t  known 
her,  they  would  afterwards  have  suffered  inexpressible  pain  in 
separating  from  a  child  so  sweet  and  so  lovely,  and  would  have 
offered  her  perhaps  with  reluctance,  because  of  the  great  love  they 
bore  to  her.  By  this  offering,  the  Lord  not  only  satisfied,  accord- 
ing to  our  ideas,  that  species  of  jealousy  which  He  already  had, 
that  none  other  but  He  should  have  any  claim  on  His  blessed 


u 


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ss^m^^^-^^^vsMf 


i 


LIVES   OF   ST.  JOAOIIIM   AND   ST.  ANNE. 


125 


Mother ;  but  His  love  was  also  in  some  sort  compensated  for  the 
delay  in  His  coming. 

Having  persevered  for  a  whole  year  in  these  earnest  supplica- 
tions, according  to  the  order  they  had  received  from  the  Lord,  it 
came  to  pass  that  St.  Joachim  went  to  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem 
by  a  divine  inspiration  and  an  express  command,  there  to  offer 
prayers  and  sacrifices  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  to  obtain 
the  desired  fruit.  Being  come  with  others  from  his  own  neigh- 
borhood, to  offer,  in  presence  of  the  high-priest,  the  custoraaiy 
gifts,  a  priest  called  Issachar  sharply  rebuked  the  venerable  old 
man  for  offering  his  gifts  with  the  othei-s,  being  barren.  Among 
other  things,  he  told  him :  "  Joachim,  why  dost  thou  present  thyself 
to  offer  sacrifice,  being  a  useless  man  ?  Separate  thyself  from  the 
others,  and  go  thy  way  hence ;  anger  not  the  Lord  by  thy  oflfer- 
ings  and  thy  sacrifices,  for  they  are  not  pleasing  in  his  eyes."  The 
holy  old  man,  confused  and  ashamed,  humbly  and  lovingly  be- 
sought the  Lord,  saying:  "My  Sovereign  Lord  and  my  eternal 
God,  Thy  command  and  Thy  will  brought  me  to  the  Temple ;  he 
who  holds  Thy  place  therein  hath  despised  me;  my  sins  have 
merited  this  affront;  I  receive  it  then  for  Thy  sake;  despise  not, 
O  Lord,  the  work  of  Thy  hands."*  Thereupon  the  afflicted  Joa- 
chim going  forth  from  the  Temple  (to  outward  appearance  calm 
and  tranquil),  went  to  a  country  house  which  he  had;  and  for 
some  days,  which  he  passed  in  solitude,  addressed  his  sighs  to  the 
Lord,  and  prayed  to  Him  as  follows : 

"  God  of  eternal  majesty,  from  whom  is  all  being,  and  the  entire 
reparation  of  the  human  race,  prostrate  in  Thy  divine  presence,  I 
beseech  Thine  infinite  goodness  to  look  with  pity  on  the  affli.  cion 
of  my  soul,  and  hear  my  prayers  and  those  of  Thy  servant  Arne 
Thine  eyes  penetrate  all  our  wishes;-  but  if  I  deserve  not  to  be 
heard,  reject  not  my  humble  spouse.  Lord  God  of  our  fathers 
Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob ;  turn  not  away  Thy  clemency  from 
us,  and  permit  not,  since  Thou  art  Father,  that  I  be  numbered 
with  the  reprobate  and  the  outcast  in  my  offerings,  as  being  use- 
less, because  Thou  givest  me  no  progeny.    Remember,  O  Lord,  the 


.-^.J 


\0fiA^-'  tf 


*  Psalm  cxxxvii.  8. 


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126 


LIVES   OF   ST.  JOAOniJI    AND   ST,  ANITE. 


I 


t^i 


.4.^^' 


sacrific(»  and  oblations  of  Thy  servants  and  Tliy  prophete  the 
fiithei-s  of  my  race;*  and  be  mindful  of  those  works  of  theii-s  which 
found  favor  in  Thy  sight.  And  since  Thou  comnmndest  me,  Lord, 
to  supplicate  Thee  with  confidence,  as  the  almighty  and  all-boun 
tiful  God,  grant  me  what  according  to  Thy  good  pleasure  I  desire ; 
for  in  beseeching  Thee  I  obey  Thy  holy  will,  in  that  Thou  hast 
jironiised  to  hear  my  prayer.  But  if  my  sins  impede  Thy  mercy, 
remove  from  me  whatever  is  displeasing  to  Thee.  Mighty  art 
thou,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  and  canst  do  whatsoever  Thou  wilt.f 
Hear  my  prayers,  poor  and  miserable  as  I  am,  for  Thou  art  infinite 
and  wont  to  have  compassion  on  the  humble.  Where  shall  I  find 
a  refuge,  if  not  in  Thee,  who  art  the  King  of  kings,  the  Lord  of 
lords,  and  the  great  Omnipotent !  Thou  hast  loaded  Thy  children 
and  Thy  servants-  with  blessings  in  their  generations,  and  Thou 
leadest  me  to  desire  and  to  hope  from  Thy  bounty  that  which 
Thou  hast  done  for  my  brethren.  If  it  be  Thy  gracious  will  to 
grant  my  petition,  I  will  offer  in  Thy  holy  Temple,  and  consecrate 
to  Thy  service,  the  fruit  of  succession  that  I  may  receive  from  Thy 
bountiful  hand.  I  give  up  my  heart  and  soul  to  Thy  divine  will, 
and  I  have  always  desired  to  turn  mine  eyes  away  from  vanity. 
Do  with  me  whatsoever  Thou  wilt,  and  comfort  our  souls,  O  Lord, 
by  the  fulfilment  of  our  hope.  From  the  throne  of  Thy  Majesty 
regard  this  miserable  dust,  and  deign  to  I'aise  it  up,  that  it  may 
adore  and  glorify  Thee,  and  may  Thy  holy  will,  not  mine,  be  done 
in  all  things." 

Thus  did  Joachim  pray  in  his  solitude.  Meanwhile  the  holy 
ambassador  declared  to  St.  Anne  that  it  would  be  pleasing  to  the 
divine  Majesty  for  her  to  ask  a  succession  of  children  with  that 
pious  intention  and  that  fervent  desire  to  obtain  it.  And  the  holy 
lady,  finding  that  it  was  the  will  of  God,  and  of  Joachim  her 
husband,  prostrated  heraelf  before  God  in  humble  submission  and 
confidence,  and  prayed  in  this  manner:  "Most  high  Majesty, 
Lord,  creator  and  preserver  of  all  things,  whom  my  soul  honors 
and  adores  as  the  true  God,  infinite,  holy,  and  bountiful,  I  will 
speak  and  make  manifest  in  Thy  royal  presence  my  necessity  and 


i 


i 


*  Deut  ix.  27 


f  Esth.  xiii.  9. 


'^C 


fel. 


iwy 


I 


m 


nm 


LIVES   OF   ST.  JOAOniM    AND   3T.  ANNE, 


127  itr:2^«iwti 


my  affliction,  although  I  am  but  dust  and  ashes*     Lord  God 

etei-nnl,  make  us  worthy  of  Thy  benediction,  giving  us  a  i)ure  and 

holy  offspring  whom  we  may  present  in  Thy  Temple.     Remember, 

Lord,  that  Thy  servant  Anna,  mother  of  Samuel,  was  bairen,  yet, 

through  Thine  infinite  bounty  she  received  the  fruition  of  her 

desires.f     I  feel  an  inward  motion  which  incites  me  to  ask  a  like 

favor  at  Thy  Imuds.     Hear  then,  most  sweet  Lord,  mine  humble 

prayer,   being  mindful   of   the  service,   the   oblations,   and  the 

sacrifices  of  my  fathers,  and  the  favoi-s  wrought  in  and  for  them 

by  the  might  of  Thy  omnipotent  arm.     I  would  present  Thee,  O 

Lord,  with  an  oblation  that  would  be  well  pleasing  in  Thy  sight ; 

but  the  best  I  can  offer  Thee  is  my  soul,  my  powers,  my  senses, 

and  the  being  Thou  hast  given  me.     And  if,  vouchsafing  to  regard 

me  from  Thy  eternal  throne,  Thou  givest  me  a  child,  I  consecrate 

it  to  Thy  service  from  the  fii-st  moment  of  its  existence.     Cast 

Thine  eyes,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  on  this  vile  and  poor  creature, 

comfort  Thy  servant,  Joachim,  hear  our  humble  supplication,  and 

be  Thy  holy  will  in  all  things  accomplished." 

These  wei-e  the  prayers  offered  up  by  St,  Joachim  and  St. 
Anne,  but  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to  describe  the  exalted  idea 
which  I  have  of  the  sanctity  of  these  blessed  parents ;  neither  is  it 
necessary,  for  what  I  have  said  will  give  some  conception  of  it. 
If  we  would  rightly  estimate  the  perfect  holiness  of  those  great 
saints,  we  must  consider  the  high  destiny  and  the  sublime  ministiy 
for  which  God  designed  them,  who  were  to  be  the  immediate 
progenitoi-s  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  parents  of  His  most 
holy  mother. 

The  prayei-s  of  St,  Joachim  and  St,  Anne  reached  the  throne  of 
the  Most  Blessed  Trinity,  where,  being  heard  and  accepted,  the 
divine  will  was  manifested  to  the  holy  angels,  and  these  celestial 
spirits  having  learned  the  decree  of  the  Most  High,  the  archangel 
Gabriel,  adoring  and  honoring  the  divine  Majesty  after  the  manner 
of  those  pure  and  spiritual  substances,  bowed  down  before  the 
throne  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity,  whence  came  forth  a  voice 
intelligible  to  him,  and  it  said :  "  Gabriel,  illuminate,  vivify,  and 


Genesis,  xviii,  27; 


t  1  Kings,  i. 


vWr-" 


\li 


Y 


\d 


=\  J 


.^"'  ■■--.-  iSv 


^'^tI 


nK; 


■%^,.^j-iu'i«r^yvi. 


.._     ..n%^ 


128 


UVJC8   Oif'   8T.  JOAOUIM    AND   ST.  ANNB. 


to 


Vim 


•a) 


^;^ 


console  Joachim  nnd  Anne,  our  servants,  and  tell  thorn  that  theii 
l)ruyeis  have  reached  our  presence,  and  our  clemency  hath  heard 
them.  Promise  them  that  they  shall  receive  a  fruit  of  benediction 
by  favor  of  our  right  hantl,  nnd  that  Anne  shall  conceive  and 
bring  forth  a  daughter,  to  whom  we  give  the  nam(!  of  Mauy." 

Several  mysteries  and  secrets  which  belonged  to  this  embassy 
were  revealed  to  the  archangel  St.  Gabriel,  receiving  the  com- 
mands of  the  Most  High,  i)ur8uant  to  which  he  descended  fi-om  the 
empyrean  sky  to  perform  his  mission.  He  appeared  to  St.  Joachim 
while  the  lattei-  was  at  prayer,  and  told  him,  that  his  })rayei'8  and 
his  alms  and  saciifices  having  found  favor  with  God,  his  wife 
should  conceive  and  bring  forth  a  child  of  benediction,  whoso 
name  was  to  be  Mary  ;  that  she  was  to  be  from  her  infancy  conse- 
crated to  God  in  His  holy  Temple.  "  Thou  wilt  go  up  to  Jei'usa- 
lem,"  said  the  heavenly  messenger,  "  and  in  testimony  of  the  truth 
of  these  good  tidings  that  I  now  bring  to  thee,  thou  wilt  meet 
thy  sister  Anne  at  the  Golden  Gate,  as  she  will  go  to  the  Temple 
for  a  purpose  similar  to  thine." 

St.  Anne  was  in  like  manner  apprised  by  the  archangel  of  the 
great  favor  that  was  to  be  bestowed  upon  her.  Filled  with  a  holj 
joy,  she  went  by  divine  inspiration  to  the  Temple  to  retui-n  thanks, 
and  at  the  Golden  Gate  she  met  her  holy  spouse,  St.  Joachim,  as 
the  angel  had  foretold.  They  both  returned  thanks  to  the  Author 
of  all  grace,  and  offered  gifts  and  particular  sacrifices  with  that 
intention.  They  then  returned  to  their  home  full  of  heavenly 
consolation,  discouraing,  on  the  way,  of  the  miraculous  favoi-s  they 
had  received,  and  the  great  things  foretold  by  the  angel  of  the 
daughter  that  was  to  be  born  to  them.  It  was  on  that  occasion 
that  they  revealed  one  to  the  other  the  order  they  had  separately 
received  from  the  same  angel  to  espouse  each  other  for  the  greater 
glory  of  God.  For  twenty  years  they  had  kept  this  secret  one 
from  the  other,  and  only  revealed  it  when  the  angel  promised 
them  the  succession  of  such  a  daughter.  They  afterwards  renewed 
their  offerings  in  the  Temple,  whither  they  went  up  every  year  on 
a  certain  day,  with  special  offerings,  further  sanctifying  the  day 
by  prayer,  by  alms-deeds,  and  by  thanksgivings. 

St.  Anne's  prudence  made  her  keep  the  secret,  even  from  St. 


V'/«ii'. 


'  vr^i 


fe 


If  *, 


LTVBS   OF  8T.  JOACHIM    AND   ST.  ANNE. 


129    IS^S^K^ 


& 


Wi 


i9 


Jonchim,  that  her  daughter  was  to  he  the  mothei-  of  the  Messiah. 
Atid  the  holy  father  kiK'W  nothing  more  about  lier  all  his  life, 
except  that  she  was  to  1)©  a  great  and  mysterious  woman ;  but  the 
Most  High  failed  not  to  make  the  great  mystery  known  to  him 
«  fi',w  moments  before  his  death. 

The  divine  Wisdom  had  pi-epared  all  things  to  separate  from 
the  corrupt  mass  of  hunian  nature  the  mother  of  nil  grace.  The 
allotted  number  of  the  jjatriardis  and  prophets  wjia  ali-eady  com- 
plete, and  the  mountains  raised  whereon  that  mystical  City  of  God 
was  to  be  placed.*  His  right  hand  had  prepared  the  incompara- 
ble treasures  of  His  divinity,  to  portion  and  endow  her.  A 
thousand  angels  were  ready  to  guard  and  pi-otect  her,  and  to  serve 
her  as  their  lady  and  royal  mistiess.  He  prepared  for  her  a  royal 
line  of  ancestors ;  He  gave  her  parents  holy  and  perfect  beyond  all 
the  men  and  women  of  that  age,  for.  had  there  been  any  greater 
saints  or  more  fit  to  be  the  parents  of  her  whom  He  chose  for  His 
own  mother,  thei-e  is  no  doubt  but  the  divine  Majesty  would  have 
chosen  thera. 

He  disposed  them  for  their  office  by  numberless  graces  and 
blessings,  enriched  them  with  all  virtues,  and  illumined  their 
minds  by  divine  wisdom  and  the  various  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
They  having  been  apprised  of  the  admirable  daughter  who  was  to 
be  given  them,  the  work  of  the  fii-st  conception,  which  was  that  of 
the  pure  body  of  Mary,  was  executed.  The  age  of  her  parents, 
when  they  were  mariied,  was,  that  of  St.  Joachim  foi-ty-six,  and 
that  of  St.  Anne  twenty-four.  Twenty  yeai-s  had  passed  since 
their  marriage  without  their  having  any  children,  so  that  the 
mother  was  forty-four  at  the  time  of  her  daughter's  conception, 
and  the  father  sixty-six.  The  conception  was  according  to  the 
common  order,  but  owing  to  St.  Anne's  sterility,  might  be  consid 
ered  miraculous,  being  also'free  from  eveiy  species  of  imperfection. 

At  the  moment  when  the  soul  was  infused  into  the  body  of  our 
divine  lady,  it  was  so  ai)pointed  that  St.  Anne,  made  suddenly 
sensible  of  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  moved  by  such  an 
interior  joy,  that  she  fell  into  a  sublime  ecstasy,  during  which  she 


•  Psalm  Izxxvi.  2. 
8 


h) 


■^M 


180 


LIVK8   OF   8T.  JOAOIIIM   AND   ST.  ANNS. 


\" 


rocoived  n  knowledge  of  the  liiglu'st  inysterios,  /ind  prnised  tho 
Ijord  by  n«w  cnnticleH  of  joy.  Theso  l)l<;sHQd  •'ftects  leniainod  all 
Ikt  lifetime,  Imt  they  were  grcftter  during  tho  nino  months  of  her 
holy  pregnancy,  when  sho  bore  in  her  womb  the  tronsnre  of 
heaven. 

The  ftuspicious  day  at  length  arrived  when  St.  Anne  was  to 
rejoice  the  world  with  the  birth  of  her  who  was  sanctified  and 
conseci-ated  to  be  the  mother  of  God.  This  delivery  took  place 
on  the  eighth  day  of  September,  the  nine  months  after  the  concep- 
tion of  the  most  holy  soul  of  our  queen  and  mistress  having  been 
acooniplished.  She  was  born  pure,  fair,  and  full  of  grace,  clearly 
indicating  her  entire  exemption  from  the  law  of  sin.  St.  Anne 
received  her  divinely  endowed  daughter  into  her  arms,  and  offxMed 
her  to  the  Lord  with  tears  of  joy  and  fervent  thanksgivings.  And 
the  angels  of  our  Lady's  guard,  with  myriads  of  others,  adored 
their  queen,  and  paid  their  homage  to  her  as  she  lay  in  her 
mother's  arms,  and  chanted  a  celestial  hymn,  which  St.  Anne  heard 
HI  part.  At  the  same  moment  the  archangel  Gabriel  was  sent  by 
the  Most  High  to  announce  the  glad  tidings  to  the  holy  fathei-s  in 
Limbo. 

It  was  a  precept  of  the  Law  in  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Leviticus, 
that  if  a  woman  brought  forth  a  daughter,  she  was  considered 
unclean  for  two  weeks,  and  remained  sixty-six  days  in  a  state  of 
purification  (but  only  thirty-three  if  she  had  given  birth  to  a  male 
child) ;  which  having  accomplished,  she  was  to  ofter  as  a  holocaust, 
at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  a  yearling  lamb  for  males  or  females, 
and  a  pigeon  or  a  dove  for  sin,  consigning  the  same  to  the  priest, 
that  he  might  offer  it  to  the  Lord  and  pray  for  her ;  by  which 
offering  she  was  purified.  The  delivery  of  the  blessed  Anne  was 
as  privileged  as  became  the  dignity  of  her  divine  daughter,  whose 
purity  vrns  reflected  on  her  mother.  Hence  she  had  no  need  of 
conforming  to  the  law  of  purification,  yet  she  obeyed  it  to  the 
letter. 

The  sixty-six  days  of  the  purification  being  passed,  St.  Ann* 
went  to  the  Temple  inflamed  with  divine  ardor,  and  bearing  her 
beloved  daughter  in  her  arras ;  she  presented  her  at  the  door  of 
the  tabernacle  vith  the  offering  which  the  Law  required,  being 


i 


m 


f>y^ 


LIVKS    OK  8T.  JOAOIIIM    AND   ST.  ANNB. 

ftccornjmnied  by  an  innumerable  multitude  of  angelsi,  and  had  Honi«i 
dlscnuiY  •  ith  the  high-priest,  the  venerable  Himeon,  who,  being 
always  most  assiduous  in  the  Temple,  enjoyed  the  Hingular  privi- 
lege of  leceiving  the  bl('8H«!d  Mary  as  often  as  she  was  presentee 
then!;  although  the  lioly  pontiff  did  not  always  perceive  the 
dignity  of  that  divine  queen,  still  he  felt  inwardly  convinced  that 
the  child  was  to  be  gnjat  before  God. 

St.  Anne  offered  the  lanib  and  the  dove,  with  some  other  gifts, 
with  great  humility,  beseeching  the  high-priest  to  pray  for  lu^r  and 
for  her  daughter.  His  divine  Majesty  had  nothing  to  ft)rgive 
either  mother  or  daughter,  in  whom  grace  was  so  abundant;  but 
He  rather  saw  new  merits  in  their  profound  humility,  since,  being 
both  holy,  they  believed  themselves  sinnei-s,  and  as  such  presented 
themselves  before  Him.  And  thus  the  holy  St.  Anne  entered  the 
Temple  with  her  daughter  in  her  arras,  and  offered  her  to  the 
Most  High  with  teare  of  joy  and  tenderness,  being  the  only  one  in 
all  the  world  that  knew  the  value  of  the  treasure  deposi'  I  in  her 
care. 

The  three  years  that  the  blessed  Mary  was  to  remain  with  her 
holy  parents  having  elapsed,  St.  Anne  was  admonished  in  a  vision 
that  the  time  a])pointed  for  her  being  taken  to  the  Temple  was 
now  at  hand,  and  that  Joachim  and  she  were  to  conduct  her 
thither.  Tender  mother  as  she  was,  this  news  filled  her  pure  soul 
with  joyful  emotion,  and  she  thanked  God  with  all  the  fervor  of 
her  heart. 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  holy  parents,  Joachim  and  Anne, 
accompanied  by  some  of  their  relatives,  departed  from  Nazareth, 
bearing  with  them  the  true  ark  of  the  covenant,  the  most  pure 
Mary,  to  consecrate  her  in  the  holy  Temple  of  Jerusalem.  They 
arrived  at  the  Temple,  and  going  in,  St.  Anne  and  St.  Joachim  took 
their  daughter  and  mistress  by  the  hand,  and  after  praying,  all 
three,  with  great  fervor  and  de»^otiou,  the  pious  i)arent8  pi-esented 
their  beloved  daughter,  who  also  made  an  offering  of  herself  at 
the  same  time.  Before  ascending  the  steps  which  conducted  to 
the  apartment  where  the  royal  daughtei-s  of  Juda  dwelt  in  the 
shadow  of  the  altar,  Mary  asked  permission  to  take  leave  of  hei 
parents ;  which  having  obtained,  she  turned  to  St.  Joachim  and  St. 


1i 


»'K»i«nslNpn.,, 


SBBBE3BS 


m 


Ml 


m 


LIVES   OF  ST.  JOACIIIJI   AND 


Anne,  and  kneeling  down  asked  tbeir  blessing,  kissing  their  hands 
und  i-equesting  the  favor  of  their  prayers.  The  two  saints  blessed 
her  with  many  tears,  and  she  walked  all  alone  up  the  steps  without 
turning  her  head  or  giving  any  further  indication  of  sorrow  on 
l^arting  from  her  pai-ents. 

St.  Joachim  and  St.  Anne  returned  to  Nazareth  much  poorej 
than  th(^y  came,  and  penetrated  with  sorrow  for  being  deprived  of 
their  treasure;  but  the  Lord  indemnified  them  for  her  absence  by 
many  signal  consolations. 

Little  more  is  known  with  certainty  concerning  the  illustrious 
■i\i\  parents  of  our  Messed  Lady.  Some  writers  affirm  that  they  were 
still  in  the  flesh  at  the  time  of  her  betrothal  to  St.  Joseph,  but 
otiiers  of  as  great  celebrity  and  as  great  authority  in  the  Church 
hold  the  contrary  opinion.  Those  who  maintain  that  the  blessed 
Joacliim  and  Anne  lived  till  after  the  birth  of  the  Messiah,  base 
theii-  opinion  on  the  fact  that  the  Church,  according  to  St.  Bernard, 
celebrated  the  feast  of  no  aaint  (with  the  single  exception  of  the 
Macliabees)  who  had  departed  this  life  before  the  commencement 
of  the  Christian  Era.  St.  Joachim  died  on  the  9th  of  March,  it  is 
generally  supposed,  and  St.  Anne  on  the  26th  of  July.  But  even 
these  dates  are  by  no  means  certain. 

It  so  happei^ed,  that,  by  the  >  ysterious  decrees  of  God,  the 
feast  of  the  blessed  St.  Anne  was  celeb-ated  in  the  Church  many 
yeai-s  before  that  of  St.  Joachim  her  holy  spouse.  In  fact,  the 
primitive  Chiistians  cherished  a  special  devotion  to  the  mother  of 
Mary,  which  devotion  has  ever  since  been  perpetuated  and  greatly 
^■'4  ji  ^1  *^''^'^"™S'''^'  among  the  children  of  the  Church  who  love  and  honor 
her  august  daughter.  Various  cities  and  countries  glory  in  possess 
ing  portions  of  her  sacred  ]>ody.  The  ring  with  wliich  St.  Joachim 
espoused  her  is  preserved  in  a  church  in  the  Eternal  City  dedicated 
to  the  blessed  mother  of  Mary.  Innumerable  mi'-aclea  have  been 
wrought  by  the  intercession  of  St.  A  ,ne  in  eveiy  part  of  Christen, 
dom,  and  s'.irines  and  pilgrimages  established  in  her  honor  both  in 
Eastern  and  Western  countries.  In  all  the  Christliinized  countries 
of  America,  the  name  of  St.  Anne  is  held  in  honor,  not  l)y  Cath- 
olics alone,  but  even  by  some  sects  of  Pi-otestants.  The  Ej)iscopa- 
lians  have  churches  bearing  her  name  in  many  of  the  principal  cities 


LIVES   OF  PT.  JOACHIM   AND   ST.  ANNE. 


153 


of  British  America  and  the  United  States.  In  Lower  Canada 
there  are  several  shrines  and  pilgrimages  consecrated  to  St.  Anne  * 
and  societies  established  in  her  honor. 

The  feast  of  St.  Joachim  is  now  celebrated  on  the  Sunday 
within  the  Octave  of  the  Assumption.  His  relics  are  still  pre- 
served in  the  Church,  most  of  them  in  various  cities  of  Italy.  His 
head  is  said  to  be  in  the  church  of  the  Machabees  at  Cologne. 

Much  might  be  here  said  in  praise  of  these  glorious  saints,  so 
highly  favored  in  the  mysterious  decrees  of  Providence,  but  what 
we  have  related  of  them  sufficiently  establishes  the  fact  of  their 
pre-eminent  holiness. 


itTAsj^s:^ 


r 


*  One  of  these,  on  tie  Ottawa  river,  is  the  «  St.  Anne's"  of  Moore's  Canadian  Boat 
Song  : 

"  As  poon  as  the  woods  on  shore  grow  dim, 
TVe'll  sing  at  S(.  Anne's  our  parting  hymn." 


m^ 


^-^^v 
^"^ 


k^.M^^' 


**.k  m 


s 


l(^ 


T, 


THE    END 


\:^.  ^^^:? 


\'illji\\\ 


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m 


\^^\ 


